Atomic accidents : a history of nuclear meltdowns and disasters : from the Ozark Mountains to Fukushima / James Mahaffey.

A researcher and nuclear energy advocate describes a number of nuclear mishaps, analyzing what happened and why and explains how each of these accidents have furthered the study of the atom and nuclear energy.

From the dozens of American bombs that went missing during the Cold War, to the misuse and misunderstanding of Rickover's nuclear submarine model, to full-scale meltdowns at Windscale, Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima, Mahaffey brings new insight into these catastrophes and reveals where scientists and engineers went wrong.

New York : Pegasus Books, 2014.

xxi, 442 pages, 16 pages of unnumbered plates : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm

First Pegasus Books edition.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 427-432) and index.

A triumph of Soviet technology -- Bill Crush and the hazards of steam under pressure -- We discover fire -- World War II, and danger beyond comprehension -- A bit of trouble in the great white north -- Birthing pains in Idaho -- Making everything else seem insignificant in the UK -- In nuclear research, even the goof-ups are fascinating -- The atomic man and lessons in fuel processing -- The military almost never lost a nuclear weapon -- The China syndrome plays in Harrisburg and Pripyat -- Tragedy at Fukushima Daiichi -- Caught in the Rickover trap.