Five Myths About Nuclear Weapons
By Ward Wilson
“Most of us think there’s nothing new to say about nuclear weapons. Yes, they’re horrible, possibly immoral, and definitely dangerous, but they feel necessary. If force is the final arbiter between nations, and nuclear bombs are the most powerful weapons, then we’re basically stuck with them. Aren’t we?
In this groundbreaking book, Ward Wilson delivers a resounding “No.” Blowing the lid off a stale debate, he demonstrates that much of what we believe about nuclear weapons is based on emotion and exaggeration. He argues that our current nuclear policy is shaped by five stubborn myths: that nuclear weapons shock and awe opponents; that nuclear deterrence is effective in a crisis; that killing civilians causes leaders to back down; that the bomb has kept the peace for sixty-five years; and that we can’t put the nuclear genie back in the bottle.
Drawing on new facts and new historical research, Wilson shatters each and every one of these myths in a clear-eyed and refreshingly pragmatic way. The result is a game-changing book that will be widely read and hotly debated by all who care about peace in the 21st century.”