Atomic Accidents

“Mahaffey, a former senior research scientist at the
Georgia Tech Research Institute, employs his extensive knowledge of nuclear
engineering to produce a volume that is by turns alarming, thought-provoking,
humorous, and always fascinating.”

“Having delivered a delightfully astute history of
atomic power in Atomic Awakening,
nuclear engineer Mahaffey goes over the same ground with the same combination
of expertise and wit, this time describing what happens when things go wrong…The
most comprehensive and certainly one of the most entertaining accounts of
atomic accidents.”

“Beginning with raucous accounts of steam engine
collisions, narrator Tom Weiner guides listeners through a comprehensive
history of energy disasters from the 1890s to the present. The book focuses on
nuclear accidents, and Weiner’s deep, resonant voice suggests the immense
potential of the atom—and the striking cost of human error. In contrast to the
subject itself, James Mahaffey’s writing is surprisingly charming. While Weiner’s
narration is rather formal and authoritative, he always succeeds in letting the
listener in on the wry observations within Mahaffey’s reasoned arguments…Weiner’s
consistent, evenly paced delivery offers listeners a chance to reconsider a
timely and divisive issue—the safety and future of nuclear energy.”

“Mahaffey guides us through more than a century of
atomic research, including misadventures with radioactive elixirs and
long-forgotten accidents along with show-stoppers such as Three Mile Island and
Chernobyl…Entertaining and thought-provoking.”

“[Mahaffey’s] abundant use of lively anecdotes and
intriguing scientific tidbits makes this an educational page-turner.”