Midnight in Chernobyl

By Adam Higginbotham,

Book cover of Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster

Book description

A New York Times Best Book of the Year
A Time Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Year
2020 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence Winner

From journalist Adam Higginbotham, the New York Times bestselling “account that reads almost like the script for a…


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Why read it?

2 authors picked Midnight in Chernobyl as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

The world continues to consider nuclear power, despite the devastation to the nuclear industry caused by the accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. Nuclear power can play a part in fighting climate change, but we need to be aware of the risks as well as the rewards. Beyond that, it is a well-researched and dramatic story about the trauma that ensues when human communities are beset by environmental disasters.

From David's list on environmental catastrophes.

Revealing how one small incident escalated into an international tragedy and how the secret Soviet state tried to cover it all up. Higginbotham opens up the mystery and gets right inside this most scary story. It could be great fiction except for the fact that it really happened.

From Taylor's list on Cold War mysteries.

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