I listened to this one.

This was probably the most terrifying book I’ve ever read. It is nonfiction, and though it outlines a possible scenario, it is something that could actually happen. All of the players have this actual capacity. We have the information from what has happened in Japan after being struck by nuclear weapons to know what would happen to those struck by it or those affected by the fallout. 

I also thought this was extremely well researched. I like the way she laid out the book - it wasn’t boring and information overload. It felt like a thriller, action packed, and truly scary. The author is an amazing story teller and makes information like this accessible to every reader. I would definitely read something else by her.

I wouldn’t recommend this to everyone - it is anxiety inducing and terrifying. 

I’ve been an avid reader of Annie Jacobsen’s books and this one stands out among them all. Though she lays out a hypothetical armageddon, there is an element of unsettling reality to it. It only takes one nation’s decision and six minutes following for life on Earth to change forever — if not completely eradicate it completely. 

I do not recommend this book to anyone who feels anxiety about this topic. I do NOT recommend the audiobook. 

While this book was interesting, I am docking a star because of the chapter about what would happen to animals in the zoo in her scenario. That chapter and the descriptions within was unnecessary and cruel. 

I listened to the audiobook, and it was terrible. The author reads it, and I would ask that she has someone else re-record it. For 8 hours, I felt like I had Siri reading to me about Armageddon. 

I think this is an important book, and I wish world leaders would take the time to read it and understand what’s at stake. I feel some comfort knowing that they probably know launching a nuclear weapon equals mutually assured destruction. They can’t do it just to win, because nobody wins.