Nuclear War
by Annie Jacobsen · first published 2024
70% recommend30% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Research-based, minute-by-minute account of a hypothetical nuclear war, from launch and detection to decision-making and evacuation. Readers find it gripping and plausible, suiting anyone wanting to grasp the stakes.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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Mentions per year
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I just finished reading Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen – it was great. The book walks through a minute by minute scenario from the second of launch through the satellite detection, alerting of forces, decision making challenges,…
on “US ICBM Launch Center Virtual Tour” ↗"Nuclear War: A Scenario" - Annie Jacobson The book goes through a potential (not far fetched) scenario in which a nuclear war takes place. It's absolutely fascinating the way the story is told, and goes into great…
on “Ask HN: What's the best book you've read so far in 2024?” ↗…https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17333289-operation-paper... which is all about Operation Paperclip. I think it's a decent book. If you end up reading / liking this book, I'd also recommend her book "Nuclear War: A Scenario" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/182733784-nuclear-war. Both are well researched, the second one (Nuclear War) was a more entertaining read, in a morbid kind of way.
on “The Nazi of Oak Park” ↗Nuclear War: A Scenario, by Annie Jacobsen. It's a short book, with second-by-second description of the unfolding of a research-based hypothetical nuclear war that starts with North Korea launching an ICBM towards…
on “Ask HN: What were the best books you read this year?” ↗Both are excellent books. Further Reading: “Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety” by Eric Schlosser “Nuclear War: A Scenario” by Annie Jacobsen “Restricted Data: A Nuclear History Blog” by Alex Wellerstein; https://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/ Technical reference. https://nuclearweaponarchive.org/
on “The Albuquerque "Broken Arrow" Nuclear Accident” ↗If you feel like you sleep too peacefully, try the book “Nuclear War” by Annie Jacobsen. It presents a very well-researched and plausible account of how nuclear war could unfold. It scared the shit out of me.
on “Minuteman III test showcases readiness of U.S. nuclear force's deterrent” ↗This book (Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen) is a must read if one wishes to understand how a nuclear war will unfold: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/182733784-nuclear-war
on “Zelensky leaves White House after angry meeting” ↗The book Nuclear War: A Scenario Hardcover by Annie Jacobsen should be essential reading for all politicians and those profiteering from the Military Industrial Complex https://www.amazon.com/Nuclear-War-Scenario-Annie-Jacobsen/d...
on “What you need to know about EMP weapons” ↗…radiation from the primary targets as winds shift. These things are based on current research and the military and government's own analysis and predictions. There is also a book you may want to read called "Nuclear War: a Scenario" by Annie Jakobsen [1] so you can be more informed before you blather. It's a summary of what the government expects from a nuclear war, which would very much cause a nuclear winter and the…
on “The thousands of atomic bombs exploded on Earth (2015)” ↗Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen Animal Farm by George Orwell (a reread) Night by Elie Wiesel
on “Ask HN: What were the best books you read in 2025?” ↗Having recently read both of Annie Jacobsen’s books — _Nuclear War_ and _Biological War_ — I’m much more concerned about a bioweapon than a nuclear one. Her conclusion to the latter book comes out and says it, paraphrasing here: > Nuclear war is terrifying in its destruction,…
on “AI Can Now Design Functional Viruses. Should We Worry?” ↗I can also recommend the new Annie Jacobsen book, Nuclear War: A Scenario for a horrific experience that would scar you for a few days :)
on “British Nuclear Warning System” ↗I only read two books. Lost in Maths by Sabine Hossenfelder, and Nuclear War A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen. Both were worthwhile. I want to read more.
on “Ask HN: What were the best books you read this year?” ↗Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen was my favorite. I lost some sleep. But we should be aware as citizens of states with nuclear weapons that their misuse is feasible, imminently practical, and would result…
on “Ask HN: Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2024?” ↗Any nation launching any nuke has the potential to eliminate most life on earth. Limited nuclear war is very unlikely. This is a nightmare. Please read Nuclear War: A Scenario, a book by Annie Jacobsen that discusses the insanity of nuclear war.
on “Is It Time for a Nordic Nuke?” ↗