The dead hand
by David E. Hoffman · first published 2009
81% recommend19% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Detailed, well-written history of the Cold War arms race, covering nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, the Reagan-Gorbachev years and the struggle to secure them afterward; suits history readers.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
This riveting narrative history of the end of the arms race sheds new light on the frightening last chapters of the Cold War and the legacy of the nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons that remain a threat today. During the Cold War, world superpowers amassed nuclear arsenals containing the explosive power of one million Hiroshimas. The Soviet Union secretly plotted to create the "Dead Hand," a system designed to launch an automatic retaliatory nuclear strike on the United States, and developed a fearsome biological warfare machine. President Ronald Reagan, hoping to awe the Soviets into s
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More information can be found in the book "The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and its Dangerous Legacy" by David E. Hoffman. It really is a Dr. Strangelove inspired "Doomsday Device".
on “Dead Hand” ↗In David Hoffman's excellent book "The Dead Hand: Reagan, Gorbachev and the Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race" he describes how Reagan and John Paul II came up with a plan that saw the smuggling of large quantities of office equipment (photocopies,…
on “UK Authorities Destroy Guardian's Hard Drives” ↗If this article piqued your interest definitely have a look at "The Dead Hand" (http://www.amazon.com/The-Dead-Hand-Untold-Dangerous/dp/0307...).
on “Almost Everything in “Dr. Strangelove” Was Based on Fact” ↗…for a historical, US-centric overview. "On Thermonuclear War" by Herman Kahn for a more technical, if somewhat outdated, analysis. "The Bomb" by Fred Kaplan, "The 300" by Daniel Wasserbly, and "The Dead Hand" by David Hoffman.
on “Ask HN: Best resources to learn about nuclear war risks?” ↗I've been learning more about the Cold War and reading stories like this in _The Dead Hand_. Not a bad read for the historically-inclined: http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Hand-Untold-Dangerous-Legacy/dp/0...
on “Sept. 26, 1983: The Man Who Saved the World by Doing ... Nothing” ↗There's a good account of the coup attempt in The Dead Hand[0] in the last 1/3 of the book. According to it, Gorbachev and family were isolated in his dacha, and his "Nuclear Football" -- the Cheget, that controlled their ICBM launch codes was taken from him.…
on “How a handful of geeks defied the USSR (2011)” ↗You should read "The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and its Dangerous Legacy" by David Hoffman. They basically had enriched uranium just hanging around in a drafty warehouse that had a simple padlock on the…
on “Mapping the US nuclear war plan for 1956” ↗If you want to relive the terror I suggest reading the Pulitzer Prize winner "The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy". While its focus is on the Cold War it's still relevant today. https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Hand-Untold-Dangerous-Legacy/dp/...
on “A military exercise staged 35 years ago almost triggered World War Three” ↗…her this year as well because she’s just that good. - American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. In my opinion is the definitive book about the atomic bomb and Oppenheimer. I also read The Dead Hand by David E. Hoffman and I think that was a pretty good follow up about the arms race and Cold War that came after. - Barbarian Days by William Finnegan. I knew nothing and cared little about surfing…
on “Good Books for a Lousy Year” ↗…her this year as well because she’s just that good. - American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. In my opinion is the definitive book about the atomic bomb and Oppenheimer. I also read The Dead Hand by David E. Hoffman and I think that was a pretty good follow up about the arms race and Cold War that came after. - Barbarian Days by William Finnegan. I knew nothing and cared little about surfing…
on “I'll pay you to read my book (2013)” ↗If anyone wants a detailed history of nuclear and biological weapons during the Cold War and the early post-Cold War days, I highly recommend The Dead Hand by David Hoffman
on “How to Keep 600 Kilograms of Kazakh Highly Enriched Uranium Safe” ↗C&C is excellent. Restricted Data by Alex Wellerstein is a fascinating history of nuclear secrecy. Also known as the NUKEMAP guy. The Dead Hand by David Hoffman is also amazing and covers chemical and bio weapons as well. It has a good bit on the struggle to contain all of the chem/bio/nuke weapons when the USSR was falling apart.
on “Ask HN: What happens if a nuclear missile is air-destroyed before detonation?” ↗…for Russia and U.S conflict) still apply. It's also an entertainingly written book aside from being very informative. (not an affiliate link, just grabbed it off google quickly) https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Hand-Untold-Dangerous-Legacy/dp/...
on “The Vela Incident (1979)” ↗Indeed. The Dead Hand is recommended reading (http://thedeadhandbook.com/)
on “The creation of Missile Command and the haunting of its creator, Dave Theurer” ↗The Dead Hand is also worth a read.
on “Almost Everything in "Dr. Strangelove" Was True” ↗