Book · 2010 · History
The Dead Hand
The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy
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And he created a system and again, this is reported by a Washington Post reporter named David Hoffman. He wrote a brilliant book called the dead hand.
Why people recommend it
The Dead Hand by David Hoffman is a comprehensive historical account of the secret Soviet nuclear weapons program and the arms race during the Cold War. On The Jordan Harbinger Show, guest Annie Jacobsen discussed the chilling realities of nuclear proliferation and referenced the book while talking with the host in an episode titled We Could Be on the Brink of Nuclear Annihilation, released on April 3, 2024. During their conversation, Jacobsen brought up the Washington Post reporter David Hoffman and his work to explain the origins and mechanics of the Soviet Union's automated doomsday device, known as the 'dead hand' nuclear retaliation system. She praised the publication as a brilliant piece of journalism that accurately detailed how the Soviet leadership created a computerized system designed to launch a nuclear counterattack even if the entire military command structure was destroyed. By citing Hoffman's research, Jacobsen emphasized the terrifying historical precedent of automated military technology and the ongoing dangers of global nuclear annihilation, providing listeners with a stark reminder of the fragile systems that historically governed superpower conflicts and global security during the twentieth century.
Every mention
Annie Jacobsen And he created a system and again, this is reported by a Washington Post reporter named David Hoffman. He w… 1
“And he created a system and again, this is reported by a Washington Post reporter named David Hoffman. He wrote a brilliant book called the dead hand.”
