68 pages • 2 hours read
Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster
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Book Brief
538
Book • Nonfiction
Chernobyl, Ukraine • 1980s
2019
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham explores the causes and consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Beginning with construction in 1970, it details managerial oversights and design flaws leading up to the explosion. Following the catastrophic event's aftermath, the book covers governmental responses and investigates responsibilities, ultimately analyzing the extensive health and environmental impacts. The book contains descriptions of severe radiation poisoning and its effects on individuals.
Informative
Dark
Suspenseful
Unnerving
Reviews & Readership
65,260 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Adam Higginbotham's Midnight in Chernobyl impresses with its detailed research and gripping narrative style, offering a comprehensive look at the Chernobyl disaster. Critics praise its accessibility and depth, though some note it can be dense with technical details. Overall, it's heralded as a definitive account that balances technical insight with human stories.
Who Should Read Midnight in Chernobyl?
Readers captivated by meticulously researched historical accounts and scientific intrigue will enjoy Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham. Fans of Richard Rhodes' The Making of the Atomic Bomb and Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City will appreciate Higginbotham's compelling narrative and in-depth exploration of the Chernobyl disaster.
65,260 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Viktor Brukhanov
Viktor Brukhanov
The Director of Chernobyl who oversees the plant's construction and operation, but his response to the disaster is marked by denial and negligence.
Alexander Yuvchenko
Alexander Yuvchenko
A senior mechanical engineer at the Chernobyl plant who witnesses the aftermath of the explosion and suffers severe radiation sickness.
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
The General Secretary of the Communist Party during the Chernobyl disaster, whose leadership involves managing the Soviet response to the incident.
Leonid Toptunov
Leonid Toptunov
A newly promoted senior reactor control engineer at Chernobyl who is involved in the turbine test leading up to the explosion.
Anatoly Dyatlov
Anatoly Dyatlov
The deputy chief engineer for operations at the Chernobyl plant, whose decision-making is critical in the events leading to the reactor explosion.
Piotr Zborovsky
Piotr Zborovsky
A captain in the Soviet civil defense who leads dangerous missions within the Chernobyl plant to manage the crisis following the explosion.
538
Book • Nonfiction
Chernobyl, Ukraine • 1980s
2019
Adult
18+ years
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