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.