

#4319
Mentioned in 7 episodes
The Doomsday Machine
Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner
Book • 2017
In this book, Daniel Ellsberg chronicles his experiences as a nuclear war planner during the Cold War, revealing shocking details about the delegation of authority to initiate nuclear attacks, secret plans for general nuclear war, and the precarious nature of nuclear strategy.
The book is divided into two parts: the first part is a memoir/confession of Ellsberg's intellectual and moral evolution, while the second part adopts a more academic perspective, analyzing the principles of 'just war' policy and the consequences of nuclear exchanges.
Ellsberg argues that little has changed in nuclear policy since the Eisenhower and Kennedy years and offers feasible steps to dismantle the 'doomsday machine' and avoid nuclear catastrophe.
The book is divided into two parts: the first part is a memoir/confession of Ellsberg's intellectual and moral evolution, while the second part adopts a more academic perspective, analyzing the principles of 'just war' policy and the consequences of nuclear exchanges.
Ellsberg argues that little has changed in nuclear policy since the Eisenhower and Kennedy years and offers feasible steps to dismantle the 'doomsday machine' and avoid nuclear catastrophe.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 7 episodes
Mentioned by 

as Daniel Ellsberg's second book, about nuclear war planning.


Scott Horton

656 snips
#478 – Scott Horton: The Case Against War and the Military Industrial Complex
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as a book on nuclear war risks.

Geoffrey Miller

34 snips
#432 - Geoffrey Miller - An Evolutionary Psychologist's Dating Advice
Mentioned by 

when discussing the fears of nuclear war during the early Cold War.


Rob Wiblin

#112 Classic episode – Carl Shulman on the common-sense case for existential risk work and its practical implications
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after his conversation with 

, he regrets not being able to interview the author before his death.

Bob Murphy


David Henderson

Ep. 436 David R. Henderson Reminisces About His Case Against Invading Iraq
Mentioned by 

when discussing early fears about nuclear war.


Carl Shulman

#112 – Carl Shulman on the common-sense case for existential risk work and its practical implications
Mentioned by 

as the author's latest book, focusing on the threat of nuclear apocalypse.


Rob Wiblin

#43 Classic episode - Daniel Ellsberg on the institutional insanity that maintains nuclear doomsday machines
Mentioned by 

as a resource for understanding the Cuban Missile Crisis and nuclear risks.


Rob Wiblin

Rob Wiblin on human nature, new technology, and living a happy, healthy & ethical life
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as a book that discusses the catastrophic nuclear strategies of the U.S. during the Cold War.

Geoffrey Miller

Geoffrey Miller on Sex Differences, Masculinity & Political Polarisation
Mentioned as a book by Ellsberg that dives deeper into his thoughts on nuclear weapons and ambiguous data.

The Devil You Know, Part 1
Mentioned by 

while discussing the unsolved nature of nuclear proliferation risks.


Liron Shapira

Superintelligent AI vs. Real-World Engineering | Liron Reacts to Bryan Cantrill
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when discussing the risks of nuclear war and the lack of research on the topic.

Geoffrey Miller

Bring Forgiveness