Command and Control

By: Eric Schlosser

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 20 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Command and Control, a ground-breaking account of the management of nuclear weapons from Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation. Read by the award-winning narrator Scott Brick.

A ground-breaking account of accidents, near-misses, extraordinary heroism, and technological breakthroughs, Command and Control explores the dilemma that has existed since the dawn of the nuclear age: how do you deploy weapons of mass destruction without being destroyed by them? Schlosser reveals that this question has never been resolved, and while other headlines dominate the news, nuclear weapons still pose a grave risk to mankind.

Command and Control interweaves the minute-by-minute story of an accident at a missile silo in rural Arkansas, where a single crew struggled to prevent the explosion of the most powerful nuclear warhead ever built by the United States, with a historical narrative that spans more than fifty years. It depicts the urgent effort by American scientists, policymakers, and military officers to ensure that nuclear weapons can't be stolen, sabotaged, used without permission, or detonated inadvertently.

Schlosser also looks at the Cold War from a new perspective, offering history from the ground up, telling the stories of bomber pilots, missile commanders, maintenance crews, and other ordinary servicemen who risked their lives to avert a nuclear holocaust. At the heart of the book lies the struggle to prevent the explosion of a ballistic missile carrying the most powerful nuclear warhead ever built by the United States. Drawing on recently declassified documents and interviews with men who designed and routinely handled nuclear weapons, Command and Control takes listeners into a terrifying but fascinating world that, until now, has been largely hidden from view. It reveals how even the most brilliant of minds can offer us only the illusion of control. Audacious, gripping, and unforgettable, Command and Control is a tour de force of investigative journalism.

©2013 Eric Schlosser (P)2013 Penguin Books Limited

Gripping and insightful

What made the experience of listening to Command and Control the most enjoyable?

Interweaving the long and evolving history of nuclear weapons with the dramatic events that took place over a single day in rural Arkansas in a chapter by chapter fashion. Also the narrators voice was perfect for the material.

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favourite?

Jeff Kennedy (although a real person rather than a character).

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

So many.

Any additional comments?

I would have liked to hear the narrator quote 'Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds'. I was surprised the author didn't include this quote. Without a doubt though, this is an excellent listen. It covers many angles including the history, science and politics surrounding nuclear weapons and command and control systems. Incredibly insightful and revealing - I was shocked by so much of it. I would highly recommend this book.

14 of 15 people found this review helpful

Who needs thrillers?

Any additional comments?

I only bought this book because it was on offer. That's to say, I started it without having any particular interest in nuclear weapons -- but that's not how I felt by the time I finished it.

The history of nuclear weapons is interwoven with the account of one particular mishap. The mishap is a gripping story (better than any thriller I've read recently), made all the better by Schlosser's sensitivity to the interplay of personalities. Moreover, the moment-by-moment account of the near disaster gives shape, relevance and a human dimension to the fascinating history.

It certainly isn't a book to read, if you're looking for peace of mind. (By the time I finished, it was all I could do not to start digging myself a bunker.) But, if you enjoy lessons in history and politics delivered with the ease and good humour of writers like Bill Bryson, then I'd highly recommend it.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Great eye opening read

You will find many and scary facts in this book that will hopefully let you become a more informed citizen

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

One of the best books I've ever listened to.

Faultless narration.
Gripping topic.
I would highly recommend this book.
If you are considering it then just go for it. You won't regret it.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

amazing that we survived the cold war

decent book... good story. narrator pretty dull though. amazing that we didn't accidentally start ww3

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Interesting and totally terrifying

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would to anyone interested in the Cold War.

What did you like best about this story?

It's very well written and researched and the pacing is very well done. It gives you facts but keeps the story going. I liked the format of the main incident mixed with the history and timeline.

Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I have not.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Truly terrifying.

Any additional comments?

How we are all still here is a miracle. The incompetence and careless attitude of the US army and powers that be down to the untrained guys dealing with nuclear weapons is staggering.

This is a fantastic book that makes you think about how delicate life is. Well worth a download.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Kept me away at night

An incredibly engaging and fascinating book, takes the true events and history of Nuclear War and tells it in a strong narrative form.

The realisation that little has been learned from the horrors of history is enough to keep me awake, as against the back drop of lunatics running both North Korea and America, the cold war seems destined to repeat itself.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Essential for anybody with an interest in the cold war

In effect a history of the atomic bomb from its invention during WWII to the end of the cold war. Well structured, alternating between a storytelling narrative around the 'Damascus incident' and broader historical and political context of the h-bomb through the decades. Very enjoyable and at times eye-opening. Illustrates the collective madness of the post war arms race and with a journalist's eye for detail and human intrigue, and lots of first-hand accounts. This is no dry academic book. I would say the author rather labours the point on the potential for an accidental nuclear detonation when in fact the many (many) near misses he lists begin to undermine his argument by the final third of the book. Also heavily biased towards the US, with Soviet side mentioned only occasionally. Nevertheless, enjoyed it thoroughly. Recommended.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Detailed and Excellent

Very very good account of the laxity regarding nuclear weapons safety.

The author mixes an account of the history of nuclear weapons control with detail of a specific accident with a nuclear missile.

I found the content engaging and thought - provoking.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Frightening

An interesting read that will leave you feeling that if the multiverse exists there's a hell of a lot of nuked Earths.

Narration was good and understandable at x2 playback speed.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful