The Cold and the Dark: The World After Nuclear War

I luckily discovered this book while researching the topic of nuclear war for my university studies. The book is compiled by three notable individuals: Paul Ehlrich, Donald Kennedy and the venerable Carl Sagan. Much of the book's material is assembled and built upon the 1983 TTAPS study, which was also coauthored by Sagan and was published in Science. The Cold and the Dark often presents itself dramatically with worst case scenarios. Naysayers will argue that the scenes presented are farcical and unlikely, however the immense amount of information proves otherwise. The book is at times overwhelming, and it takes a scientific approach on the subject. It disposes to the reader a staggering amount of statistics, graphs, and other data that may be difficult to absorb immediately. I suggest that you keep a pen and paper nearby to take notes while you read. The Cold and the Dark is an essential research tool for anyone studying the effects of nuclear war, and although the book was satisfying and entertaining, be warned: it's not a casual read.