Futuristic, tense, stranger than fiction history!

Starting slow, but building to a crescendo, this is the exciting story of the exploration of the sub-atomic realm, radioactivity, and the inspiring intellectual challenges, successes and terrible blunders made by the many individuals and nations in the race to harness nuclear power both as a devastating weapon, and an inexhaustible supply of useful energy.

As an insider to the Nuclear industry, Mahaffey knows his stuff, and he pitches the balance between scientific theory and social narrative just right, in my opinion. Some slightly quirky references to the supernatural in his introduction are rapidly left behind as he charts the history of the discovery of atomic structure, the isolation of neutrons among the various curious emissions of the first discovered radioactive elements such as Radium, Polonium and Uranium and the destabilising impact of very slow or very fast neutrons on the fissile nuclei of these same elements. The book has many nice anecdotes such as the famous "traffic light" moment - the sudden realisation of the potentially huge energy that could be released in a nuclear chain reaction. The tale really takes off as the race to build a super-bomb during the war gathers pace.

A satisfying irony of history described in the book, is that it was the anti-semitism of the Nazis that so handicapped the German atom-bomb project, and gave such a decisive final advantage to the Allies. To quote one wag "We got there first because our German scientists were better than their German scientists"!

Mahaffey then goes on to describe the post-war development of the nuclear industry, as well as the further development of a variety of military nuclear hardware, reactors, rockets etc. including the fusion bomb, and the leaking of secrets to the USSR. He misses no detail out, for instance in describing the principles behind major competing reactor designs, the Cold War politics of the time, and the notorious accidents, including Winscale, 3 Mile Island and Chenobyl, as well as some less well known incidents (such as the deliberate suicidal removal of the central control rod in one military reactor) with the political as well as nuclear fallout that resulted.

These accidents, increasing capital costs, plus a growing opposition to nuclear energy changed the dream of free energy into the public image nightmare of a costly, dangerous, long lasting radioactive contaminant producing technology. However, if there is a moral to the book, it is that this fear we must overcome. He lays his cards on the table in his opposition to the "anti nuclear movement" who in his opinion may prevent us utilising this clean, safe, inexhaustible form of energy, through prejudice. Its time we looked again at nuclear energy. One area he surprisingly does not explore is nuclear fusion as a source of energy.

All in all, it is an excellent book, read in a slightly "American heroic" style, reminiscent of those 1950s information films (which sort of feels appropriate). It exemplifies all the scientific excitement of a futuristic technology, the cold war tension of a secret super-weapon, the adrenaline of nuclear disaster, and the sometimes stranger than fiction truthfulness of a historical account. Much to think about!

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7 people found this helpful

hard going

so much science involved makes it difficult to follow sometimes, and the overlapping or rewinding of time lines can cause confusion in the first 2/3rds of the book. However it is interesting to understand how nuclear was discovered

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Great topic, strange voice acting

The story and topic is great but the voice acting is done by one who's working towards becoming the next American action movie trailer voice, "he had one job!".

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1 person found this helpful

Great summary of the history and scene setting of the industry

Great read, the first couple of hours are a little physics heavy for most, but you don’t need to take it all in. It’s explained well enough to set the scene of the early nuclear science era. I found most of the book fascinating, although disclaimer I have a PhD in nuclear engineering. It’s suitable for anyone with an interest in studying physics or engineering, particularly if you’re studying above high school level.

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Doesn't matter if you aren't a nuclear scientist

What did you like most about Atomic Awakening?

Well narrated, the story moves along at a nice pace and with a good sense of humour. You don't need to be a physicist to understand it, as as much of the story is about the people behind the development of our understanding of radioactivity as what was actually observed. By the time the author gets to the Manhattan Project (after about 100 years of discoveries) you're hooked and can't put the earphones down.

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2 people found this helpful

Fascinating account of the science behind the Atom

This ticked a lot of boxes for me.
- Modern history
- Science
- Politics
- Jump in any chapter.
The book's pace is perfect. The scientific history around the discovery of the Atom and it's potential power is very well pitched and provides some excellent chapters before the juicy chapters on the Atom bomb and Nuclear power. I was gripped on the background behind the Sellafield near disaster.
There are a few negatives. It is written very much with an American worldview and at first I found the American accent of the narrator a bit grating, but it did grow on me.

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Great fairly in depth overview

A verry well written and in depth overview of nuclear power from the early 40s onwards even for someone who has a physics background. very good!

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2 people found this helpful

Great writing

Mk 3 is pronounced mark three not M K 3. Otherwise a great book. Recommended.

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1 person found this helpful

very interesting coverage of time

very easy to listen too, right blend of technical, history and politics. Well worth the time to listen.

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Great on history, less so on the future

An excellent history of the development of atomic technologies. Great insight into the hype and ultimate realisation of true potential. A little light on current innovations and future potential. Despite that, highly recommend.

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