tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236895917331192509.post6444017770878384521..comments2023-05-17T04:01:26.506-04:00Comments on The Neutron Economy: Review: "Uranium: War, Energy, and the Rock that Shaped the World"Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12086026121605548134noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236895917331192509.post-66725731949094131612011-09-24T17:43:00.115-04:002011-09-24T17:43:00.115-04:00Thanks, Steve, for this well-written review. It is...Thanks, Steve, for this well-written review. It is true that I am a skeptic of the cost-effectiveness and long-term wisdom of nuclear power, which was always an afterthought and a tack-on (and in several nations, a cover-story) for the weapons programs. But glad you read the book and that it provoked some thought -- that would make any writer's day. All best, Tom ZoellnerTom Zoellnerhttp://www.tomzoellner.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236895917331192509.post-13251701858584782792011-09-19T10:13:58.216-04:002011-09-19T10:13:58.216-04:00My overall impression is that this book has a very...My overall impression is that this book has a very engaging writing style.<br /><br />By the way, I started reading a different book a while ago, The Atomic Complex, which I saw from another blog:<br />http://atomicinsights.com/2011/06/the-battle-for-the-atom-is-heating-up-again.html<br /><br />One of the major things I hoped to learn from reading that book was how Uranium, even that destined for peaceful power reactors, was used as a political tool. It seems that the Uranium book covers that topic as well. In the narrative of an essay for English class, I can see how the battle to control Uranium as a strategic resource is an appealing one. It did bring out the worst of human nature, although most of that story played out before I was ever born.<br /><br />It actually makes Thorium more appealing, if for no other reason that its symbolic value. The exploitation of Thorium would have its roots firmly planted in the quest for sustainable energy. Problem is, even Thorium fuel cycles must maintain a fissile inventory, which is, you guessed it, Uranium. On top of that, no one argues against the need for safeguards for that fissile inventory.<br /><br />It's for these reasons that I think a successful international fuel bank is a necessity for the full potential of nuclear power to be realized.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16161965850899477592noreply@blogger.com