Nuclear Energy: Principles, Practices, and Prospects [Hardcover]

David Bodansky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 9, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0387207783 | ISBN-13: 978-0387207780 | Edition: 2nd

The world faces serious difficulties in obtaining the energy that will be needed in coming decades for a growing population, especially given the problem of climate change caused by fossil fuel use. This book presents a view of nuclear energy as an important carbon-free energy option. It discusses the nuclear fuel cycle, the types of reactors used today and proposed for the future, nuclear waste disposal, reactor accidents and reactor safety, nuclear weapon proliferation, and the cost of electric power. To provide background for these discussions, the book begins with chapters on the history of the development and use of nuclear energy, the health effects of ionizing radiation, and the basic physics principles of reactor operation. The text has been rewritten and substantially expanded for this edition, to reflect changes that have taken place in the eight years since the publication of the first edition and to provide greater coverage of key topics. These include the Yucca Mountain repository plans, designs for next-generation reactors, weapons proliferation and terrorism threats, the potential of alternatives to nuclear energy, and controversies about low-level radiation. Acclaim for the first edition: "…The book provides a superb background for scientists and those in technical fields. It provides probably all the information that many people, including government policy makers, will ever need...[a] well-written and balanced book. This book is recommended for anyone who wants a broad technical background on nuclear energy." -American Journal of Physics

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The material presented here is largely accessible to anyone interested in nuclear energy. This book is the best of its kind in providing a well-written survey of the science, technology, safety, and economics of the full range of nuclear issues, including power, waste, weapons, terrorism, biological effects, and the future of the nuclear industry. This book is highly recommended both for its content and its accuracy, and should be ready by everyone interested in our nuclear future." -CHOICE

From the Back Cover

The world faces serious difficulties in obtaining the energy that will be needed in coming decades for a growing population, especially given the problem of climate change caused by fossil fuel use. This book presents a view of nuclear energy as an important carbon-free energy option. It discusses the nuclear fuel cycle, the types of reactors used today and proposed for the future, nuclear waste disposal, reactor accidents and reactor safety, nuclear weapon proliferation, and the cost of electric power. To provide background for these discussions, the book begins with chapters on the history of the development and use of nuclear energy, the health effects of ionizing radiation, and the basic physics principles of reactor operation. The text has been rewritten and substantially expanded for this edition, to reflect changes that have taken place in the eight years since the publication of the first edition and to provide greater coverage of key topics. These include the Yucca Mountain repository plans, designs for next-generation reactors, weapons proliferation and terrorism threats, the potential of alternatives to nuclear energy, and controversies about low-level radiation. Acclaim for the first edition: "…The book provides a superb background for scientists and those in technical fields. It provides probably all the information that many people, including government policy makers, will ever need...[a] well-written and balanced book. This book is recommended for anyone who wants a broad technical background on nuclear energy." -American Journal of Physics

Product Details

• Hardcover: 715 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 2nd edition (September 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387207783
• ISBN-13: 978-0387207780
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,057,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book, November 13, 2005

By 

Adi Oltean - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nuclear Energy: Principles, Practices, and Prospects (Hardcover)

I am amazed that nobody wrote yet a review of this book.

I liked this book a lot. David Bodansky's style is logical, concise and fun to read. What I liked most is that the author succeeds to attack with equal clarity a wide range of diverse subjects about nuclear energy:

- Economic considerations on nuclear energy.

- The physics principles behind nuclear reactions, and their relevance in reactor design, etc.

- Engineering considerations around nuclear reactor design and operations

- Administrative considerations around waste disposal.

To conclude: if you have some background in physics, math and/or economy, and you need a no-nonsense introduction in the field of nuclear energy, then this book is for you. However, if you just like to read prose, (and you don't enjoy technical details being sprinkled during the exposition) then the book migth be too high-level.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast review, April 23, 2009

By 

Enrico Marchetti (Roma, Italy) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nuclear Energy: Principles, Practices, and Prospects (Hardcover)

Nuclear Energy: Principles, Practices, and ProspectsThis book offers a wide coverage of both, theory and application, of nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is treated as source of electrical power and as a weapon, with obvious distinction. The physical theory is easy but complete and serves as a good starting point to a wide set of applications that include electrical power production (with a good comparison of costs between nuclear and oter ways of producing electricity), research and weapon principles. All these subjects are explored rather deeply, along with their ramifications.

It is a good book, worth his prize.