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A fairly thorough account of the events leading up to, around, and after of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. I think it would be easier to follow if reading a physical copy just because there are so many people involved and it was difficult to follow each thread because so much happened. ⬇️

Uplifting Christmas tale about the vast generosity of humanity and… No, just kidding. The Soviet Politburo sounds like MAGA. Loyalty is rewarded, knowledge is silenced and ignored. Lies spread en masse, and bullying to ensure the compliance of the people. Inevitably, all is lost. The future of all authoritarianism.

Is it lyrical or narcissistic? Is the author a brave explorer or a refugee from Darwin‘s law? It feels like he is in love with listening to himself ramble his nihilistic monologue. However, not all readers have partaken of the substances that make philosophers and poets out of every fool.

Just couldn't help myself at the Nobel Peace Center. They practically had a whole bookstore in the gift shop! And I learned about a few other books I definitely want to put on my tbr, primarily The Witness of Those Two Days about the memories of the survivors of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by Nihon Hidankyo (the recipients of the 2024 Novel Peace Prize for their ongoing advocacy against the use of nuclear weapons).

Me: I know everything about Chernobyl now. I'm like an expert.

16yo: Tell me the names of all the people who were involved.

Me: ...Um...Russian names...a lot of them...

Audio. Difficult to listen to, with technical verbiage. This was a very educational experience either way. As such, I think I learned more about the downfall of the USSR after the meltdown. What I did not know was focused upon how the government handled it afterwards. Like how the families were prosecuted. How the meltdown indirectly could be said to have caused the down fall of the Soviet Union due to the payout to the families.

So this book took awhile to finish, apparently I started this in January 🤷‍♂️. It was just so thorough, which was both a positive and a negative. This book covers all types of nuclear accidents to include those related to research and tests, the transportation of weapons, and those at power plants. This was informative if not a bit unsettling at times with the number of close calls reported. The author‘s light tone and sense of humor helps

This is part memoir and part history of Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant in CO. It‘s interesting and Iverson has a lot to say about her life and the impacts of Rocky Flats. I think a map of the area and a timeline could have helped move this along. Parts were fantastic, other portions I scanned.

Finally I‘ve read this very important book. So much sorrow from each tale, each personal tragedy. From the inability of humanity to learn and get better. Almost 40 years passed and we are no better off.

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Movie: Oppenheimer