Chemical and Biological Warfare: A Comprehensive Survey for the Concerned Citizen [Hardcover]

Eric Croddy (Author), Clarisa Perez-Armendariz (Author), John Hart (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0387950761 | ISBN-13: 978-0387950761 | Publication Date: November 26, 2001 | Edition: 1

The armaments of chemical and biological warfare (CBW) are now widely held not just by nation-states, but by terrorist and criminal enterprises. The weapons themselves are relatively inexpensive and very easy to hide, allowing organizations of just a few dozen people to deploy potentially devastating attacks. While in the twentieth century most arms-control efforts focused, rightly, on nuclear arsenals, in the twenty-first century CBW will almost certainly require just as much attention. This book defines the basics of CBW for the concerned citizen, including non-alarmist scientific descriptions of the weapons and their antidotes, methods of deployment and defensive response, and the likelihood in the current global political climate of additional proliferation.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mustard gas, sarin, hemorrhagic fever viruses, vomiting agents, biological toxins the weapons described in Chemical and Biological Warfare: A Comprehensive Survey for the Concerned Citizen will make a disaster junkie's head spin, but author Eric Croddy, a Monterey Institute of International Studies research associate, is careful to avoid unnecessary alarmism in this primer on unconventional weapons. He describes the various existing chemical and biological weapons, how they work, and which countries own them, evaluating the threat that each kind of weapon poses and the likelihood of its use. For the most part, he argues, this weaponry is still prohibitively expensive. Whether he's right or not, this is a thorough, understandable crash course.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

From the reviews: "Croddy provides a useful handbook for anyone who wishes to know about chemical and biological weapons (CBW). … Croddy lays out basic information in the beginning and only gradually adds complexity when the reader is ready for it. … Croddy incorporates the latest information, including the changing tactics of terrorists and their plans to use CBW. … Particularly useful is Croddy’s discussion of the current controversy surrounding mandatory vaccination of all US military personnel … . Recommended for both undergraduate and graduate students." (J. Granville, CHOICE, July, 2002) "Chemical and Biological Warfare: A Comprehensive Survey for the Concerned Citizen provides extensive listings of and information about known chemical and biological agents, while keeping historical perspective and avoiding alarmism." (Morning News Dallas, July, 2002) "Chemical And Biological Warfare analyzes the key issues related to chemical and biological warfare, detailing known chemical and biological agents, how they may be used in weaponry, and the possibilities of their use in modern conflicts. Readers seeking a technical survey of proliferation and basic concepts of chemical and biological weaponry receive more in-depth information here than in many titles." (Bookwatch, May, 2002) "In this highly authoritative book, Croddy … provides a realistic assessment of the dangers we actually face from chemical and biological warfare. The author uses his extensive knowledge of the technology and history of such warfare to survey key chemical and biological agents and explain their characteristics and effects on humans." (Joshua Sinai, Journal of Homeland Security, June, 2002) "‘Be Informed, Not Afraid’ … encapsulates the laudable objective of this book by Eric Croddy … . A historical and factual approach is taken that achieves the objective of informing but not alarming the reader. It provides a succinct appreciation as to which countries still possess those weapons … . Overall, this book is a primer for the concerned citizen, which puts the dangers of chemical and biological weapons into the context of today’s world." (Graham S. Pearson, Biologist, Vol. 49 (5), 2002) "As the title states, the authors of this book have set out to give the ‘concerned citizen’ a comprehensive overview of chemical and biological weapons. In their descriptions of the various agents they have succeeded very well … . Considerable attention is given to measures for preventing war-induced epidemics … ." (Erhard Geissler, Angewandte Chemie, Vol. 41 (16), 2002) "The book provides a detailed survey of the key issues related to chemical and biological warfare. For the reader who wants solid and level-headed information on the current state of CBW affairs and the likelihood of its proliferation, it is indispensable." (Chemische Rundschau, Issue 14, July, 2002) "Without playing with fears, Eric Croddy … uses his extensive knowledge of the technology and history of chemical and biological warfare (CBW) to provide a comprehensive run-down of key CBW agents … . In clear, non-alarmist language, Croddy provides a detailed survey of the key issues related to chemical and biological warfare. For the reader who wants solid and level-headed information on the current state of CBW affairs and the likelihood of its proliferation, this is an indispensable volume." (Science in Africa, April, 2002)

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (November 26, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387950761
• ISBN-13: 978-0387950761
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #602,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > History > Military > Weapons & Warfare > Biological & Chemical

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you really want to know more..., January 2, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chemical and Biological Warfare: A Comprehensive Survey for the Concerned Citizen (Hardcover)

I read, and enjoyed, Judith Miller's Germs book, but its sometimes superficial journalistic treatment left me wanting more concrete information: on chemical and biological agents, where they come from, who has them, how they could get used, what we can do to stop or counteract them, etc. I found all that and more in this excellent book, which, in spite of its straightforward presentation, is every bit as gripping as Germs. Croddy is no alarmist---he thinks a lot of the recent hoopla is overblown given the difficulties any terrorist would have spreading an agent like anthrax (and, thank God, he appears to be right on this score)---but there's plenty to get alarmed over in this book, and now is the right time to read it and digest its lessons, rather than waiting for the next chemical or biological panic attack.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The key issues related to chemical and biological warfare, May 6, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chemical and Biological Warfare: A Comprehensive Survey for the Concerned Citizen (Hardcover)

Chemical And Biological Warfare analyzes the key issues related to chemical and biological warfare, detailing known chemical and biological agents, how they may be used in weaponry, and the possibilities of their use in modern conflicts. Readers seeking a technical survey of proliferation and basic concepts of chemical and biological weaponry receive more in-depth information here than in many titles.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good text book and interesting read, November 25, 2011

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dbouncer - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chemical and Biological Warfare: A Comprehensive Survey for the Concerned Citizen (Hardcover)

This is a well written book that explains how the world of CBRN can effect us now and in the future.