Preview
  • Chernobyl 01:23:40

  • The Incredible True Story of the World's Worst Nuclear Disaster
  • By: Andrew Leatherbarrow
  • Narrated by: Michael Page
  • Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (1,012 ratings)

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Chernobyl 01:23:40

By: Andrew Leatherbarrow
Narrated by: Michael Page
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Publisher's summary

At 01:23:40 on April 26th 1986, Alexander Akimov pressed the emergency shutdown button at Chernobyl's fourth nuclear reactor. It was an act that forced the permanent evacuation of a city, killed thousands, and crippled the Soviet Union. The event spawned decades of conflicting, exaggerated, and inaccurate stories.

This book, the result of five years of research, presents an accessible but comprehensive account of what really happened - from the desperate fight to prevent a burning reactor core from irradiating eastern Europe, to the self-sacrifice of the heroic men who entered fields of radiation so strong that machines wouldn't work, to the surprising truth about the legendary "Chernobyl diver", all the way through to the USSR's final show-trial. The historical narrative is interwoven with a story of the author's own spontaneous journey to Ukraine's still-abandoned city of Pripyat and the wider Chernobyl Zone.

©2016 Andrew Leatherbarrow (P)2016 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about Chernobyl 01:23:40

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A GREAT READ<br />

Most of the information in this book is unknown to most Americans making it full of great surprises for mechanical type of guy's and a must listen to power plant personnel.

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Fascinating account of worst nuclear disaster

The author, through first hand accounts of his travels to Chernobyl following the disaster, and meticulous research of the event and what lead to it, does a remarkable job explaining such a complex subject with apparent ease. I could not walk away from this book without feeling as though I had been present when it happened. The skilful description of the abandoned city of Pripyat is haunting. The narration by the masterful narrator Michael Page brings each page to life. This audiobook is a must listen!

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great listen, highly recommended

Allot of mistakes were made back then, but foolish Soviet era pride was their undoing.
Cutting corners, Not waiting for the more experienced engineering department to run the test on Reactor 4, led to one of the greatest Nuclear accidents of our time.
Chernobyl, was a mistake from day one. They now realise this type of reactor isn't good at all.
Great information on what makes these things tick.
Excellent narrative

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Good Book

Really appreciate nuclear power more than I ever have. Admire the men on the cutting edge. Feel great sympathy for those who were used. Do not see this subject with the same eyes after listening to this book

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Very interesting

Very interesting and informative. I really liked the addition of the of author's travels to Chernobyl, it gave the listener an outside view of the place, it's surroundings, and a glimpse into the reality of today. The performance of Michael Page was not the best. The narration was very flat and somewhat boring to listen to, which was a shame since the story itself was superb.

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Fascinating !

I enjoyed this so much I’m sure I will listen to it again and again.

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Interesting book on a disaster we know little about

this disaster has always interested me and was glad to find this book. Very easy to listen to but with lots of details that the less technical can understand.
Narrator did a good job as well. highly recommend.

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More of a travelogue than an account of history

The author did do some interesting research into the subject, and didn't just rehash much of what was said about this disaster. But the actual account of the disaster is interspaced with his travelogue to the site & towns around that area of Ukraine to a point that you routinely start wondering when he'll get back to writing about the actual accident and the consequences.

Good research, but diverges off the subject matter to the point of making it more of a distraction rather than painting a coherent image of the location.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Imbalance of the topics discussed.

Nothing beyond the basics here and a lot was about the author’s trip to the area.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Good "read" or listen.

Love this book. I've listened many times. Thank you for sharing your story and all the in depth information on nuclear science.

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