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The Dead Hand
- The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and its Dangerous Legacy
- Narrated by: Bob Walter
- Length: 20 hrs and 46 mins
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Summary
“A tour de force of investigative history.” —Steve Coll
The Dead Hand is the suspense-filled story of the people who sought to brake the speeding locomotive of the arms race, then rushed to secure the nuclear and biological weapons left behind by the collapse of the Soviet Union—a dangerous legacy that haunts us even today.The Cold War was an epoch of massive overkill. In the last half of the twentieth century the two superpowers had perfected the science of mass destruction and possessed nuclear weapons with the combined power of a million Hiroshimas. What’s more, a Soviet biological warfare machine was ready to produce bacteria and viruses to sicken and kill millions.
In The Dead Hand, a thrilling narrative history drawing on new archives and original research and interviews, David E. Hoffman reveals how presidents, scientists, diplomats, soldiers, and spies confronted the danger and changed the course of history. The Dead Hand captures the inside story in both the United States and the Soviet Union, giving us an urgent and intimate account of the last decade of the arms race. With access to secret Kremlin documents, Hoffman chronicles Soviet internal deliberations that have long been hidden. He reveals that weapons designers in 1985 laid a massive “Star Wars” program on the desk of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to compete with President Reagan, but Gorbachev refused to build it. He unmasks the cover-up of the Soviet biological weapons program. He tells the exclusive story of one Soviet microbiologist’s quest to build a genetically engineered super-germ—it would cause a mild illness, a deceptive recovery, then a second, fatal attack. And he details the frightening history of the Doomsday Machine, known as the Dead Hand, which would launch a retaliatory nuclear strike if the Soviet leaders were wiped out. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the dangers remained. Soon rickety trains were hauling unsecured nuclear warheads across the Russian steppe; tons of highly-enriched uranium and plutonium lay unguarded in warehouses; and microbiologists and bomb designers were scavenging for food to feed their families. The Dead Hand offers fresh and startling insights into Reagan and Gorbachev, the two key figures of the end of the Cold War, and draws colorful, unforgettable portraits of many others who struggled, often valiantly, to save the world from the most terrifying weapons known to man.
Critic reviews
“Authoritative and chilling. . . . A readable, many-tentacled account of the decades-long military standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union. . . . The Dead Hand is deadly serious, but this story can verge on pitch-black comedy—Dr. Strangelove as updated by the Coen Brothers.”—The New York Times
“Revealing, alarming and compelling throughout. . . . This richly reported account vividly chronicles the insanity of the arms race. . . . Taut, crisply written. . . . The Dead Hand puts human faces on the bureaucracy of mutual assured destruction, even as it underscores the institutional inertia that drove this monster forward. . . . A fine book indeed.”—T. J. Stiles, Minneapolis Star Tribune
“In a compelling narrative packed with vivid detail and telling quotations, Hoffman tells the story of how Reagan and Gorbachev halted the arms race.”—The Times Literary Supplement
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What listeners say about The Dead Hand
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Richard
- 31-03-13
Thorough, Detailed but often a bit boring
I read this because I wanted to learn more about the cold war. This book provides a detailed, blow-by-blow account of the development of biological and nuclear weapons and negotiations for their reduction. It focuses mainly on the stories of Russian politicians and scientists that were responsible for the development and cover-up of weapons.
My problem with the book is that the story of the cold war - although horrifying and ridiculous is not all that gripping. Changes to the stance of either side or successes in bringing about the end of the cold war are not clearly directly related to the events that happen in it. There is a long stand-off, a series of submits and then the end comes about because of social change within Europe. For me the book gets too lost in the details of the careers of specific people whose part in the overall story isn't significant.
On this audio version there is also a glitch so that the audio jumps at (if I remember correctly) about 9 hours in so we lose a section.
No doubt this is a thorough review of the events of the cold war, but I suspect the abridged version covers more than enough for most people.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Matthew
- 19-08-14
Gripping story of the cold war arms race
Any additional comments?
This is an excellent retelling of the nuclear arms race between east and west, including the not so well known history of the biological weapons race. It's a fascinating period of history when world war three actually seemed like a possibility. The main focus is on the later Reagan/Gorbachev era. Superbly read. Highly recommended.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Andy T
- 31-05-19
A great review
Like other recent history narratives, this was an enthralling canter through some of the critical years of the Cold War and its aftermath. The only reason I’m not recording it as a 5* listen is that it seemed to lack a focus, or boundaries - it didn’t cover all the Cold War, or cover all the Nuclear weapon issues or all the BW issues. Instead, it tended to dip in and out of moments and issues - with extraordinary detail, granted - so that I was left better educated but rather unsure what the central thesis was. I personally preferred Schloss’s Command and Control, which had a particular focus and a linking narrative. But none of that should take away from the fact this was an extremely well researched, written and read audiobook that kept my attention throughout.
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2 people found this helpful
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- TK-421
- 30-10-18
What a Rubbish Story! Total waste ot time & money!
As the title of the review says, it's a complete waste of time and money (credit) this story.
While this book claims to be based on real documents and personal statements, it's actualy a narrow minded one-point of view rubbish story that even the most naive person will struggle to believe. While on the one hand side the narrative portrays the US as the saver of the world and guardian of piece without whom, the US, world would be at an end. On the other, it pictures the Soviets as brain washed retarded people that only want to obliterate the world with nuclear weapons. Please spare yourselves the money or credits and don't bother with this ridiculous Western propaganda..
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Isy
- 07-01-13
EXCELLENT BOOK!!!
David Hoffman well documented and extraordinary way of writing shows us the race of the superpowers to keep their supremacy at any cost. A must read for everyone who wants to understand how governments use their power and funds to create weapons that can destroy our world in a blink.
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1 person found this helpful
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- James B
- 30-04-23
cold war politics and intrigue. awesome.
loved this book, I learnt so much from a period when I was a child
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- ZootSlayer
- 04-01-22
The Cold War wasn't just about Nukes!
A brilliant insight into the Cold War era arms race, specifically covering biological weaponry; its research and development and its political impact.
Well narrated and well worth a listen!
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- Rockape28
- 09-03-21
Very informative.
Excellent follow up to similar books I've read/listened to which detail the technical side of the arms race. This book focuses more on the politics of the cold war, explaining the US and Soviet/Russian leaders attitudes and psyche, and how this was reflected in their approach on nuclear/chemical/biological weapons.
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- Steve Wright
- 14-02-21
The evil empire
A strong condemnation of Russia, the evil empire so called that obfuscates, denies and lies about its involvement in nuclear and biological weapons. The book focuses on post Reagan, and post Glasnost; do not trust the Russians, a sentiment unchanged with Putin. The west is hardly blameless but most enlightening is the comprehensive biological programmes pursued by Russia, in the face of disarmament treaties. A scary story, well researched and well read ... with a fair about of poetic license I am sure. If the Cold War entertains you; listen to this.
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- Anonymous User
- 11-01-21
It will make you think!
A thorough telling of how close the world has come to nuclear destruction and the aftermath of all those weapons still around. This book will make you think the world is a scary place full of scary people.
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