How to Build a Nuclear Bomb: And Other Weapons of Mass Destruction - Softcover

Barnaby, Frank

3.5

96 ratings by Goodreads

9781862076242: How to Build a Nuclear Bomb: And Other Weapons of Mass Destruction

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1862076243 ISBN 13: 9781862076242

Publisher: Granta Books, 2003

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The nuclear industry is making increasing quantities of plutonium available worldwide - and it is easy today to obtain the chemicals required to manufacture chemical warfare agents, a single drop of which can kill. But "How to Build a Nuclear Bomb" is not a collection of scare stories; in it, nuclear weapons and terrorism expert, Frank Barnaby, describes in straightforward, non-sensational terms what is involved when a state or a terrorist group sets out to make a weapon of mass destruction - biological, chemical, radiological or nuclear. He explains what a weapon of mass destruction is, what it is capable of doing, and what is needed to produce one and argues that counter-terrorist measures urgently need to be stepped up to meet the challenges of a new era of international terror.

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Review:

How to Build a Nuclear Bomb is a timely and sobering book, but it is not exactly what its title suggests; it is not a DIY handbook for wannabe terrorists. Although it does indeed outline the technical requirements necessary for building a nuclear bomb and the other main WMD (weapons of mass destruction), the details necessary for manufacturing such devices have long been available on the web and in published manuals for many years now. Frank Barnaby's stated aim is to promote informed debate about the risks and measures needed to protect vulnerable democratic societies against the use of WMDs by international terrorists. As he says currently, the debate is far from informed, mainly because of the large amount of inaccurate information and misinformation in circulation.

How to Build a Nuclear Bomb seeks to inform the debate. And, thanks to Barnaby's deep knowledge of the subject and ability to communicate what are sometimes complex technical matters clearly, this aim is achieved. Juxtaposed with the more technical details of bomb-making are equally technical details of what the results are on the victims. How to Build a Nuclear Bomb should be essential reading for anyone claiming to have an opinion on the subject or thinking that they should be informed about the topic, even politicians and journalists.

Nuclear terrorism is a very real and growing problem. As Mohamed El Baradei, Director General of the International Atomic Agency Council, warns the willingness of terrorists to commit suicide to achieve their evil aims makes the nuclear terrorism threat far more likely today than it was before September 11. Nevertheless, as Barnaby shows here, the threat posed by biological and chemical weapons is just as important as that of nuclear weapons, especially because so many of them are really easy to make. How to Build a Nuclear Bomb is not for those of a nervous disposition and does not make for comfortable bedtime reading. Maps, notes, websites and an index complete an invaluable book. --Douglas Palmer

Review:

‘A sobering read indeed, but an important one...Barnaby knows what he is talking about’ -- Financial Times

‘A timely crib of WMD for beginners...encourages the sceptics to think again’ -- Economist

‘Barnaby is eminently qualified to reveal the true danger posed by terrorists...the scenarios are truly disturbing' -- Guardian

‘Spin-free analysis acts as a warning of the dire consequences of ignorance...a straightforward and unhysterical guide’ -- Independent

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