The Nuclear Energy Option: An Alternative for the 90's [Hardcover]

Bernard Leonard Cohen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

University of Pittsburgh physicist Cohen provides accessible, scientifically sound risk analyses of the energy options that he believes must be exercised in the next 10 years. This update of his work on public energy policy stands opposed to the stack of recent greenhouse effect-oriented titles by proposing more nuclear power plants (including fuel reprocessing plants) as statistically the safest, most environmentally sound solution. Cohen advances the debate on energy policy for all sides by first quantifying the human health costs of coal- and oil-generated electricity, and by debunking solar technology's deus ex machina role. In this context, Cohen looks at issues surrounding nuclear power since Three Mile Island, such as the "unsolved problem" of nuclear waste disposal and the "China Syndrome." Media people especially are urged to re-examine "nuclear hysteria" (no one ever writes about " deadly natural gas," Cohen notes), and even anti-nuclear activists will find the study's appendices and notes a sourcebook for the coming round of public policy issues likely to emerge as a result of the Mideast crisis.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 338 pages
• Publisher: Plenum Pr; 1 edition (September 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306435675
• ISBN-13: 978-0306435676
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,424,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Nuclear Energy Option, June 26, 2008

By 

Paul Haeberlen (Houston) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Nuclear Energy Option: An Alternative for the 90's (Hardcover)

The "The Nuclear Energy Option" is one of the best books I have read on a technical subject. Cohen is a master at analyzing complex subjects and expressing them in a way that most people can understand.

The book addresses the biases that have led the US to an energy policy that favors high-cost and environmentally dangerous methods to generate power (coal, and yes, alternative energy such as solar cells) and that discourages low-cost, environmentally safe methods such as nuclear.

If you still think that nuclear power is dangerous, then do yourself a favor and read the book. The fear that the public has about nuclear power generation and waste disposal is not supported by the facts. Our TV and print media have done a disservice in the poor and biased reporting that have strongly influenced our public policy as well as our perceptions.

Cohen gives us a common "measuring stick" to compare alternative methods of power generation in terms of cost and safety to the public and the environment.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes the case for nuclear power, April 4, 2009

By 

R. E Westgard "Viking" (Bay Lake & St Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Nuclear Energy Option: An Alternative for the 90's (Hardcover)

Although written in 1990, the information in this book is still useful and accurate. As the debate over whether to build more nuclear power plants rages, Dr. Cohen provide clear reasoning as to why we need to revive this clean, safe, and powerful source of base load electric power. He also provides convincing evidence of why the Yucca Mountain site is a safe repository for spent nuclear fuel.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on nuclear power, period., December 4, 2008

By 

Duc Nguyen "Wonghe" (Irmo, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Nuclear Energy Option: An Alternative for the 90's (Hardcover)

This got to be one of the best books written about nuclear power ever! I have been in the industry for couple years and I must say that Dr. Cohen has done a superb job in presenting the technical info for ordinary people to grasp. Every issues raised by the environmentalists were fairly analyzed and the facts clearly showed that nuclear power is best option to meet the energy demand of the future. I highly doubt that there is a book out there that can do better job than this one in term of providing an unbiased & fair perspective on the positives and negatives of nuclear power & others energy sources. If you want to learn about nuclear power, get this book, you will not be disappointed even though it was written in the '90 much of the content s are extremely still relevant today.