No book will ever come closer than this to providing an inside overview of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover’s nuclear propulsion program. The author, an Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) historian assigned to the admiral’s office, spent years observing the project and its controversial leader in action, and the insights he provides here reflect both his familiarity with the subject and his ability to remain an objective observer.

From 1974 to the day Rickover retired in 1982, Francis Duncan had free access to files, documents, and personnel at every level of involvement—a rare, never-to-be-repeated opportunity that most historians dream of but few get. And, as this book clearly shows, he took full advantage of the situation to gain a unique understanding of exactly how the program operated. The result is a thorough, balanced record of what may well be the U.S. Navy’s and the nation’s most important and far-reaching project of the twentieth century.

Knowing that facts and figures alone don’t tell the entire story, Duncan talked to scores of people who dealt with day-to-day operations, watched men in prototype training and then accompanied them to sea, visited civilian and naval installations, and had close contact with Rickover himself. He also interviewed former U.S. presidents, secretaries of the navy, chiefs of naval operations, AEC chairmen, and legislative leaders who kept tabs on the projects but were removed from daily activities. Never once, the author says, did the admiral attempt to interfere with his research, nor did Rickover read the manuscript.

While the focus here is on the nuclear program, not the man, this book does provide fascinating insights into Rickover’s personality and his efforts to maintain standards of excellence that would assure the program’s safety and its ultimate success. Using one of the admiral’s favorite terms, “the discipline of technology,” to demonstrate the method of technological application advocated by Rickover, Duncan effectively balances technical detail with astute analysis and even drama. Filled with information not found elsewhere, his study is a valuable chronicle of the development of submarine propulsion reactors, the loss of the Thresher, the struggle over the application of nuclear propulsion to surface fleet, and the use of the Shippingport Atomic Power Plant to illustrate the feasibility of a light-water breeder reactor.

About the Author

Francis Duncan was a historian for the Department of Energy’s Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) from 1962 to 1987. During these years he coauthored, with Richard G. Hewlett, Atomic Shield, the second volume of the AEC, and Nuclear Navy, 1946‒1962. He holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history from the University of Chicago. Dr. Duncan first met Adm. Hyman Rickover in 1969 while completing work on the AEC history. In 1974 he was assigned to the admiral’s office to begin research for this study, and for the next eight years he watched Rickover and his “Naval Reactors” at work and engaged in frank discussions with a variety of people associated with the nuclear propulsion program. Now retired, Dr. Duncan lives with his wife in Bethesda, Maryland.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Hello, My name is Gideon Eliezer Jakob. I am a new bookseller that is committed to providing an exceptional buying experience to each of my customers. We accurately describe the item we are selling and will ship your book promptly upon purchase. Please consider supporting a new seller who is eager to earn your trust and increase their reach within the book buying community. 981385

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

GEJ Enterprises
MD, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Right of cancellation

If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION

Statutory Right to cancel

You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days for any reason.

The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, GEJ Enterprises, 1314 BEDFORD AVENUE, STE 107, 21208, Pikesville, Maryland, U.S.A., +1 4435295377, of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.

Effects of cancellation

If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or GEJ Enterprises, 1314 BEDFORD AVENUE, STE 107, 21208, Pikesville, Maryland, U.S.A., +1 4435295377, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of cancellation

The right of cancellation does not apply to:

the delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
the supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not cancel it once delivery had started.

Model withdrawal form

(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)

To: (GEJ Enterprises, 1314 BEDFORD AVENUE, STE 107, 21208, Pikesville, Maryland, U.S.A., +1 4435295377)

I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),

Ordered on (*)/received on (*)

Name of consumer(s)

Address of consumer(s)

Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)

Date

* Delete as appropriate.

Shipping Terms

We will ship your item in a bubble mailer. This is a manilla envelope that is lined with bubble wrap. We typically ship same day or following day. We do not ship on Saturdays. Friday orders may be sent on Friday or the following Monday. All books will be mailed via the Media Mail option, unless Priority shipping is chosed.

We look forward to serving you!

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	3 to 5 business days	2 to 4 business days
First item	� 0.00	� 6.84

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.