They Never Knew: The Victims of Nuclear Testing (Impact Books)

Cheney, Glenn Alan

ISBN 10: 053111273X / ISBN 13: 9780531112731

Published by Franklin Watts (edition First Edition), 1996

About this Item

With dust jacket. It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting.

Seller Inventory # 053111273X-11-1-29

Bibliographic Details

• Title: They Never Knew: The Victims of Nuclear Testing (Impact Books)
• Publisher: Franklin Watts (edition First Edition)
• Publication Date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 053111273X
• ISBN 13: 9780531112731
• Binding: Library Binding
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included

About this title

Synopsis

Examines the American government's role in developing nuclear weapons and conducting atomic testing, focusing on the effects of radiation on humans and the victims' attempts to sue the government for compensation

Reviews

Grade 6 Up. A disturbing look at the effect of nuclear test fallout, particularly in the western United States. The book covers nuclear testing and explosions from 1945 to the recent. Cheney sets the stage by explaining the devastating effect of radiation on the human body. With extensive documentation, he traces government cover-ups, the careless exposure of military personnel, and the browbeating and intimidation used to deny that radiation was ever a problem in this country. Much data is cited, such as studies linking the high incidence of childhood leukemia in rural Utah towns, or strange bouts of livestock death and mutation, to nuclear testing. The author discusses the influence of politics and the desire for secrecy that resulted in no warnings for populations in fallout zones. Despite the overwhelming evidence indicting the government and the distressing examples included, Cheney's treatment remains evenhanded; he presents alternate explanations for the data and eyewitness accounts. Most valuable, however, is the overall sense of the detrimental effect of imposed ignorance on the lives of our citizens. An important book on a neglected subject.?Shannon VanHemert, Memphis/Shelby County Public Library, TN
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 7^-12. Cheney, who begins with brief background on the creation of atomic weapons, focuses on the effects of tests on the U.S. population and the associated governmental cover-ups. A few interviews and excerpts from testimonies personalize the book, but given the secrecy that surrounds the subject (Cheney often alludes to the disappearance of government records), it is no surprise that these accounts seem insufficient. The chapter concerning victims' struggles to receive government compensation effectively summarizes the extent of illness attributable to testing. Cheney doesn't maintain a wholly impartial tone, but his straightforward presentation, attention to research (he makes good use of available records), and extensive footnotes give his book credibility. Bibliography; glossary. Debbie Carton