"A basic understanding of the science and history of nuclear weapons, including attempts to control, limit, and use them, and the prospects for eliminating them completely"--

Series Foreword vii
Preface ix
1 Introduction: The Big Difference 1
2 Dawn over Trinity: The Nuclear Age Begins 27
3 Taming the Nuclear Genie: New Hopes and Threats 61
4 The Brink: Close Calls and Nuclear Crises 89
5 Brighter Than the Sun: What Nuclear Weapons Do 125
6 Deterrence and Doomsday: Nuclear Theories and Treaties 145
7 The Ends of the World: Nuclear Weapons and Popular Culture 177
8 The Choice 211
Glossary 237
Notes 243
Further Reading 247
Index 253