Review of Countdown to Zero (2010) by Benwomack — 31 Mar 2020

Gotta think about these things.

What you get: Chapter One. How easy would it be, to make a dirty bomb? Chapter Two. How likely would it be, for there to be an accident involving nuclear material? Chapter Three. How dangerous are nuclear weapons? Lists the order in which countries armed- 1) USA 1945, 2) USSR 1949, 3) UK 1952, 4) France 1960, (tested in the Rigan Sahara) 5) China 1964 , (a few weeks after, Tom Lehrer wrote ‘who’s next?’ (which doesn’t mention the UK). 6) Indonesia, 7) South Africa, 8)Egypt, 9) Israel 1967, 10) India 1974, 11) Pakistan 1990. 12) North Korea 2006.

It's shocking. So , what it doesn't have, is talk to... deeply peaceful people, people who have protested , for years, against the use of nuclear weapons. Or much history. What it is full of, is the panic, that one could die in a flash. Which is a sensible panic to have, as the world's a dangerous place. But it is possibly trying to scare you- or, to wake you up into caring.

Thank you. Does it use beautiful people to get your attention? No.