Producing Power: The Pre-Chernobyl History of the Soviet Nuclear Industry (Inside Technology)
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.50 (598 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0262028271 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 400 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2016-05-07 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Sonja D. . Schmid is Assistant Professor in the Department of Science and Technology in Society at Virginia Tech
This is the best account of multiple perspectives on what happened in Chernobyl Patrick Roberts This is the best account of multiple perspectives on what happened in Chernobyl. This book also offers a riveting illustration of approaches to science, technology, and the engineering profession in the Soviet nuclear industry.. "I particularly liked it as a case study of the planning process" according to David Monger. A very interest approach to the Chernobyl disaster and the Soviet nuclear industry generally. I particularly liked it as a case study of the planning process in the later Soviet era.I would like to have seen the author flesh out more some of the ideas presented, such as the socio-technological aspects. I also thought the
(David Holloway, Raymond A. A must. Her analysis of Soviet reactor choice before Chernobyl is detailed and persuasive. (Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University) . A major achievement. (Charles Perrow, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Yale University)Sonja Schmid has written a revealing book based on meticulous research. Spruance Professor of International History, Stanford University; author of Stalin and the Bomb)Offering a sophisticated reading of previously unexplored sources, Schmid masterfully steers readers through the political, technical, and organizational complexities of the Soviet nuclear industry. Her subtle interpretation of the Chernobyl disaster offers not only a fresh look at Soviet history, but also a significant rethinking of the roots of any nucl
She examines the Soviet nuclear industry's dual origins in weapons and electrification programs, and she traces the emergence of nuclear power experts as a professional community. Other observers blamed the Soviet style of ideologically driven economic and industrial management. Schmid's account helps us understand how and why a complex sociotechnical system broke down. The Chernobyl disaster has been variously ascribed to human error, reactor design flaws, and industry mismanagement. Rather than pursue one "definitive" explanation, she investigates how each of these narratives makes sense in its own way and demonstrates that each implies adherence to a particular set of ideas -- about high-risk technologies, human-machine interactions, organizational methods for ensuring safety and productivity, and