The Fate of the Earth and The Abolition (Stanford Nuclear Age Series) 1st Edition

by Jonathan Schell (Author)

34 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0804737029

ISBN-10: 0804737029

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Now combined in one volume, these two books helped focus national attention in the early 1980s on the movement for a nuclear freeze. The Fate of the Earth painted a chilling picture of the planet in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, while The Abolition offered a proposal for full-scale nuclear disarmament. With the recent tensions in India and Pakistan, and concerns about nuclear proliferation around the globe, public attention is once again focused on the worldwide nuclear situation. The author is at the forefront of the discussion. In February 1998, his lengthy essay constituted the centerpiece of a special, widely distributed issue of The Nation dealing with the nuclear arms race. The relevance of his two books for today's debates is undeniable, as many experts assert that the nuclear situation is more dangerous than ever.

Reviews of The Fate of the Earth

"This is a work of enormous force. There are moments when it seems to hurtle almost out of control, across an extraordinary range of fact and thought. But in the end, it accomplishes what no other work has managed to do in the years of the nuclear age. It compels us―and compel is the right word―to confront head on the nuclear peril."

―New York Times Book Review

"There have been thousands of commentaries on what this new destructive power of man means; but my guess is that Schell's book . . . will become the classic statement of the emerging consciousness."

―Max Lerner, New Republic

Reviews of The Abolition

"As always, Schell is interesting and ingenious, eloquent and sometimes moving. He presents his case with clarity, and with candor about its possible shortcomings."

―New Republic

"A reasoned argument. . . . As this work will do much to stimulate the ongoing nuclear debate, it is highly recommended."

―Library Journal

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"As always, Schell is interesting and ingenious and sometimes moving." -- New Republic

"This is a work of enormous force. . . . It compels us―and compel is the right word―to confront head-on the nuclear peril." -- New York Times Book Review

From the Inside Flap

Now combined in one volume, these two books helped focus national attention in the early 1980s on the movement for a nuclear freeze. The Fate of the Earth painted a chilling picture of the planet in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, while The Abolition offered a proposal for full-scale nuclear disarmament. With the recent tensions in India and Pakistan, and concerns about nuclear proliferation around the globe, public attention is once again focused on the worldwide nuclear situation. The author is at the forefront of the discussion. In February 1998, his lengthy essay constituted the centerpiece of a special, widely distributed issue of The Nation dealing with the nuclear arms race. The relevance of his two books for today’s debates is undeniable, as many experts assert that the nuclear situation is more dangerous than ever.
Reviews of The Fate of the Earth
“This is a work of enormous force. There are moments when it seems to hurtle almost out of control, across an extraordinary range of fact and thought. But in the end, it accomplishes what no other work has managed to do in the years of the nuclear age. It compels us—and compel is the right word—to confront head on the nuclear peril.”
—New York Times Book Review
“There have been thousands of commentaries on what this new destructive power of man means; but my guess is that Schell’s book . . . will become the classic statement of the emerging consciousness.”
—Max Lerner, New Republic
Reviews of The Abolition
“As always, Schell is interesting and ingenious, eloquent and sometimes moving. He presents his case with clarity, and with candor about its possible shortcomings.”
—New Republic
“A reasoned argument. . . . As this work will do much to stimulate the ongoing nuclear debate, it is highly recommended.”
—Library Journal

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stanford University Press; 1st edition (May 1, 2000)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 460 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0804737029
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0804737029
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.18 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,625,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,113 in Nuclear Weapons & Warfare History (Books)
- #2,047 in Military History (Books)
- #2,052 in International Relations (Books)

Customer Reviews:
34 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		61%
4 star		12%
3 star		17%
2 star		5%
1 star		4%

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Jim F

Source document

Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2014

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This weighty and closely reasoned book is considered to have changed history.

If you are interested in understanding how the humans manage to avoid blowing themselves up (so far) this is an important source document.

The NYT said in 1982 that is should be reviewed as an "event of profound historical moment rather than as a book".

If you are interested in how history can be changed by a book read this.

2 people found this helpful

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Douglas Ashby

This is an old work but, in my opinion ...

Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2016

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This is an old work but, in my opinion, timeless in providing a uniquely comprehensive perspective with regard to the consequences of nuclear holocaust. In particular, a decision to annihilate ourselves is equally a decision to annihilate future generations.

One person found this helpful

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Moparman

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2014

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scarriest book i've ever read.

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2017

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Arrived swiftly and as described.

One person found this helpful

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Machiavelli's Revenge

Frightening and unimaginable, but appropriate for this moment in time

Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2016

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Just received this book the other day and have read about 70 pages It is excellent

I shutter to think that the Imbecile Trump will assume control over 50,000 plus thermonuclear weapons on January, 20 2017 This is a book every American should read, especially 47,000,000 stumps who.voted for him.

I pray we are all still alive by July 4th 2017, and incinerated by a nuclear holocaust because of the diplomatic missteps of this blustering, bungling idiot

BTW, the author notes that a single 1 megaton hydrogen bomb is 80 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on
Hiroshima, Japan August 6 1945. Also, Russian missiles can deliver mutable warheads in one payload which means that New York City could be struck by several 1 megaton hydrogen bombs in a first strike attack. The aftermath according to Schell would be a scenario whose horror and destruction goes beyond human imagination.

6 people found this helpful

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Margaret Smith

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2015

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An excellent book I read when it first came out

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S. Waiblinger

Great read, albeit depressing

Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2010

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The plot summary for this book has already been explained by other reviewers, so I won't bother with that here. This book was required for a seminar I took in college about nuclear proliferation. Despite several presentations by professors studying nuclear proliferation, this book produced the most conversation (and an intelligent one, at that) surrounding the topic.

While a great read, this book is rather depressing. It paints a rather bleak picture about humanity and outlines how simple it would be for humanity to be annihilated. I knocked off one star not for this reason, but simply because the book was not mind-blowing - it was great, but not fantastic.

3 people found this helpful

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