Necessary Evil: The Dilemma of Nuclear Weapons

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The chapter discusses the historical estimates of casualties in a nuclear war scenario and the necessity of the nuclear triad for deterrence. It delves into the concept of deterrence, the challenges in eliminating nuclear arms, and the potential catastrophic outcomes of a nuclear conflict. The conversation critically analyzes the excessive stockpiling of nuclear weapons and emphasizes the need to prioritize global survival over outdated systems.

Pulitzer Prize finalist Annie Jacobsen investigated this ticking-clock scenario, based on dozens of exclusive new interviews with military and civilian experts who have built the weapons, been privy to the response plans, and are responsible for those decisions should they need to be made.

Shermer and Jacobsen discuss: surviving a nuclear explosion • what happens in a nuclear bomb explosion • consequences of a nuclear exchange • Getting to Nuclear Zero • North Korea, China/Taiwan • increasing budgets for more weapons • types and quantities of nuclear weapons • why humans engage in aggression, violence, and war

Annie Jacobsen is an investigative journalist, Pulitzer Prize finalist, and New York Times bestselling author. Her new book is Nuclear War: A Scenario. Her other books include: Area 51, Operation Paperclip, and The Pentagon’s Brain.