The Dead Hand

The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and its Dangerous Legacy

By: David E. Hoffman

Narrated by: Bob Walter

Length: 20 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

“A tour de force of investigative history.” —Steve Coll

The Dead Hand is the suspense-filled story of the people who sought to brake the speeding locomotive of the arms race, then rushed to secure the nuclear and biological weapons left behind by the collapse of the Soviet Union—a dangerous legacy that haunts us even today.The Cold War was an epoch of massive overkill. In the last half of the twentieth century the two superpowers had perfected the science of mass destruction and possessed nuclear weapons with the combined power of a million Hiroshimas. What’s more, a Soviet biological warfare machine was ready to produce bacteria and viruses to sicken and kill millions.

In The Dead Hand, a thrilling narrative history drawing on new archives and original research and interviews, David E. Hoffman reveals how presidents, scientists, diplomats, soldiers, and spies confronted the danger and changed the course of history. The Dead Hand captures the inside story in both the United States and the Soviet Union, giving us an urgent and intimate account of the last decade of the arms race. With access to secret Kremlin documents, Hoffman chronicles Soviet internal deliberations that have long been hidden. He reveals that weapons designers in 1985 laid a massive “Star Wars” program on the desk of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to compete with President Reagan, but Gorbachev refused to build it. He unmasks the cover-up of the Soviet biological weapons program. He tells the exclusive story of one Soviet microbiologist’s quest to build a genetically engineered super-germ—it would cause a mild illness, a deceptive recovery, then a second, fatal attack. And he details the frightening history of the Doomsday Machine, known as the Dead Hand, which would launch a retaliatory nuclear strike if the Soviet leaders were wiped out. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the dangers remained. Soon rickety trains were hauling unsecured nuclear warheads across the Russian steppe; tons of highly-enriched uranium and plutonium lay unguarded in warehouses; and microbiologists and bomb designers were scavenging for food to feed their families. The Dead Hand offers fresh and startling insights into Reagan and Gorbachev, the two key figures of the end of the Cold War, and draws colorful, unforgettable portraits of many others who struggled, often valiantly, to save the world from the most terrifying weapons known to man.

©2009 David Hoffman (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

“Authoritative and chilling. . . . A readable, many-tentacled account of the decades-long military standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union. . . . The Dead Hand is deadly serious, but this story can verge on pitch-black comedy—Dr. Strangelove as updated by the Coen Brothers.”—The New York Times

“Revealing, alarming and compelling throughout. . . . This richly reported account vividly chronicles the insanity of the arms race. . . . Taut, crisply written. . . . The Dead Hand puts human faces on the bureaucracy of mutual assured destruction, even as it underscores the institutional inertia that drove this monster forward. . . . A fine book indeed.”—T. J. Stiles, Minneapolis Star Tribune

“In a compelling narrative packed with vivid detail and telling quotations, Hoffman tells the story of how Reagan and Gorbachev halted the arms race.”—The Times Literary Supplement

Good book for those interested in the Cold War

This book is interesting - has scary stories and facts, which are very intriguing and captive.

Fabulous and enthralling historical narrative

Have you ever read a book that you didn't want to end; a real page Turner that ended too quickly; perhaps even putting it down more frequently than you normally would simply because you don't want it to end? This was that book for me. I am an admitted history geek and having lived through this era, I'm ashamed to say that I knew very little of the inner workings of the cold war, which was enticingly revealed in this narrative. It was so much more than who can build the most nuclear weapons the fastest. The author unveiled the fear and intent within so many different levels of foreign and domestic government. Also, the narration of this book was wonderful, and made the listening experience a pleasure. I would recommend this book to Family, friends, and even people I don't know.

Great Book!

It’s a great book if you’re interested in intricacies of Cold War and Biological, Chemical and Nuclear warfare.

Interesting and Scary

I lived through these times but purposely did not read the paper or listen to the news. I knew I had no control over events and I did not want to think about them. As I child of the 60's who went to a school which had a sign with an arrow to the "Fall Out Shelter" I assumed that nuclear war was a matter of when. I half heard the news through th 80's through osmosis.

This book was great. Now the greatest danger is past it is great to read about it. I think the author gives Reagen far too much credit. Gorbachev truly deserves credit for really trying a new way. Maybe Reagen deserves credit for realizing Gorbachev was a truly different leader.

Anyways we were lucky that a nuclear war didn't happen by accident.

There is still a lot of scary stuff in existence in the world - pathogens and chemicals and nuclear materials. But somehow it feels a lot more under control.

Simultaneously fascinating and terrifying.

Listen to this book to fill in the gaps in knowledge surrounding Cold War politicking and weapons programs. This was a riveting listen for all 20 hours. Bravo Mr Hoffman.

Scary

Insightful history of nuclear and biological weapons programs, brinksmanship, and post-Soviet controls (and lack thereof). Very scary.

Well told political history

Would you consider the audio edition of The Dead Hand to be better than the print version?

I have read/listened to 4 books on the history nuclear power and weapons. My favourite was The Age of Radiance. Second was Command and Control. Third being Dead Hand. The last being American Prometheus.

I would describe Dead Hand as a political history of the cold war and the nuclear arms race. I would recommend this book, along with The Age of Radiance and Command and Control, to anyone who is interested in this period of political history. It is very well researched and balanced. The American’s aren’t good and the Soviets aren’t bad, they are both groups’ people with flaws. The difference between the two is the strong and open public institutions one side the closed and corrupt institutions on the other. The American military would have made some pretty awful decisions if the political and public system would have allowed it. Learning that this is the case is why this book should be read.

I recommend The Oligarch's by David Hoffman if you interesting if having a deeper understanding of Soviet political and economic history.

Very informative and rightfully descriptive

Very informative and rightfully descriptive book on Cold War and the world around Cold War times.

Fascinating

On the dark side of humor, the collapse of the Former USSR. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But sometimes when you win you really lose. This book demonstrates the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It briefly in the epilogue demonstrates how COVID-19 may have been developed through research conducted, under lax security. A must read for political scientists.

a must read on cold war history

Liberals should read this book. Conservatives are already paranoid enough. Reagan called the USSR the "evil empire". Maybe. They were definitely the "paranoid, irresponsible empire". This book is certainly worth the investment of your time.