---
product_id: 328091547
title: "Atomic America: How a Deadly Explosion and a Feared Admiral Changed the Course of Nuclear History"
brand: "todd tucker"
price: "KD 19.33"
currency: KWD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 9
url: https://www.desertcart.com.kw/products/328091547-atomic-america-how-a-deadly-explosion-and-a-feared-admiral
store_origin: KW
region: Kuwait
---

# Atomic America: How a Deadly Explosion and a Feared Admiral Changed the Course of Nuclear History

**Brand:** todd tucker
**Price:** KD 19.33
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Atomic America: How a Deadly Explosion and a Feared Admiral Changed the Course of Nuclear History by todd tucker
- **How much does it cost?** KD 19.33 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.kw](https://www.desertcart.com.kw/products/328091547-atomic-america-how-a-deadly-explosion-and-a-feared-admiral)

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## Description

Atomic America: How a Deadly Explosion and a Feared Admiral Changed the Course of Nuclear History

## Images

![Atomic America: How a Deadly Explosion and a Feared Admiral Changed the Course of Nuclear History - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/618APOVanSL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Surprised at how good it was
  

*by J***M on Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2023*

I've been repeatedly disappointed with recent books trying to spin a new narrated on an old subject and, honestly, I expected the same here.  I'm very pleased to say that I was wrong.  The writing, the technical accuracy and the readability were all excellent.  The author was able to weave in his opinions with detailed justification that made them convincing rather than questionable fluff.  I'll be looking for more of his work.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Well-Done Masterpiece of Nuclear Lore
  

*by C***A on Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2016*

This is a must-read for all who have an interest in nuclear engineering or just plain old science. It has a VERY interesting way of keeping your attention. It is a page-turner, almost like a novel. The Navy clearly did things better than the Army and certainly better than the Air Force, but the book does not actually take sides. It presents the dark side of Admiral Rickover without villainizing him and celebrates his genius without making him into a saint. It is impossible to express what an enjoyable book this is.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Exploding Popular Myths Around America's Only Fatal Reactor Accident
  

*by R***E on Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2013*

Todd Tucker explores the history of a little-known Cold War nuclear accident shrouded in mystery and tears away the popular mythology in this history of the 1961 explosion of the SL-1 reactor in Idaho. Beyond dispelling tawdry innuendo, Tucker shows the political and technical origins of the accident stemming from inter-service rivalry, the allure of the atom, and contrasting visions of duty, safety, and attention to detail. "Atomic America" tells a compelling cautionary tale, finally treating the victims of this tragedy with the humanity and dignity they deserve.Tucker's tale follows two paths: the first, the sequence of events leading up to the power excursion and explosion at SL-1 and its aftermath; the second, the history of US military nuclear power development. The story of the development of the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) is well-documented in other books such as Ted Rockwell's 
  
The Rickover Effect







  
  
    . Tucker does an admirable job isolating the most salient elements of naval reactor history to compare with the lesser-known power development projects carried out by the Air Force and the Army. Specific emphasis is placed on the origin and intent of the Army reactor program, from its successes at the secretive Camp Century beneath the ice in Greenland and at Fort Belvoir, less than 20 miles from the White House to the dramatic failure of SL-1 at the National Reactor Testing Station in Idaho. The Air Force's Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion (ANP) project gets a fair bit of attention as a thirteen year, billion dollar boondoggle finally put out of its misery by President Kennedy, ironically after Eisenhower had spent years trying to scuttle the costly endeavor.The changing technical and political landscape of the Cold War are set as backdrop, contrasting the attitude toward design, operation, and safety among the Army, Navy, and Air Force nuclear power programs. Originally designed to power the Army's air search radars of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line in the far north, SL-1 was plagued with technical problems stemming from poor design and fabrication. Tucker presents the personal lives and drama surrounding the reactor operators on shift that fateful night but digs even deeper into the operational history of the doomed reactor. He illustrates how and why the Jerry Springer-esque speculations of infidelity and murder-suicide has gained traction over the less compelling but more likely explanation for the accident: poorly trained, overworked operators with insufficient supervision working on a badly designed, poorly maintained reactor. As with the Windscale accident in the UK a few years earlier, the book shows the political incentive to shift blame to operators, especially those who couldn't publicly defend themselves (see also 
  
Windscale 1957: Anatomy of a Nuclear Accident







  
  
    ).Tucker weaves together history with an engineering detective story, clearly explaining technical concepts as they become relevant to his narrative. Explanations of reactor control, radiation, and radioactivity succinctly support Tucker's storyline rather than bogging the book down in detail; "Atomic America" is anything but dry and didactic. The presentation of Adm. Rickover is balanced, neither engaging in hagiography nor character assassination; a fair portrayal of a very divisive and colorful figure (contrast with 
  
SuperFuel







  
  
    ). Like James Mahaffey's 
  
Atomic Awakening







  
  
    , "Atomic America" also treats nuclear technology fairly, showing how early on its promise was oversold and risks downplayed, but never engaging in scaremongering or cheap rhetorical technique. Tucker stays within his sphere of evidence, pointing out with equal emphasis the insufficient technical analysis of the initial investigators as well as the unwarranted perpetuation of vulgar rumor. He neither downplays the significance of the SL-1 accident nor uses it as a sweeping indictment of persons, technologies, or institutions. The balance of scientific fact, history, and humanity make this a rare and intensely enjoyable work.As someone actively working the field of reactor safety, I found "Atomic America" eye-opening, refreshingly fair, and a compelling, sobering tale of avoidable tragedy, a little-known story well told. Highly recommended.

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*Product available on Desertcart Kuwait*
*Store origin: KW*
*Last updated: 2026-01-25*