Going Nuclear - by Tim Gregory (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A bold, provocative, and knowledgeable case for the importance of nuclear science and how nuclear power is essential to reaching net zero.

What if net zero is not an environmental challenge, but an energy challenge?

In this visionary book, Dr. Tim Gregory challenges prevailing narratives around climate change, arguing that the goal of net zero is not simply to replace fossil fuels with renewables, but to power civilization using sources of energy that do not emit carbon dioxide. He unequivocally shows that only one emissions-free energy source can rise to that challenge: nuclear power.

Going Nuclear calls for decarbonization to be the twenty-first century's Apollo program, illuminating the far-reaching potential of the atom beyond clean energy to advanced medicine, forensics, atomic gardening, and interplanetary exploration. By interweaving scientific optimism, myth-busting data, and ambitious policy, Gregory offers an alternative nuclear future that can meet the shared goal of environmental stewardship and continued human progress.

Review Quotes

"A highly engaging and lucid primer on nuclear technology. Nuclear energy was the future once; maybe it will be again."--The Telegraph

"Gregory is an excellent popular science writer: clear as a bell and gently humorous."--The Guardian

"There are the suave centrists who know perfectly well that only nuclear can save us. This book will become their bible. In short, Gregory's case is that nuclear power is humanity's only hope. His argument is powerful and it would be interesting to see a counterargument by somebody - certainly not a Luddite - who writes and thinks as well as Gregory. But perhaps there is no such person."--The Spectator

"British nuclear chemist Gregory makes a convincing case that nuclear energy could be a zero-carbon source of electricity, helping society meet climate goals in a short time frame. Skeptics will appreciate this persuasive, technical plea for the promise of nuclear power in meeting energy needs without carbon emissions."--Library Journal

"Gregory (Meteorite), a nuclear chemist at the U.K.'s main site for processing and storing nuclear waste, offers an impassioned and convincing defense of nuclear power. Gregory's conversational tone is a boon, and he balances it with solid data. The result is an evenhanded defense of a much-vilified industry."--Publishers Weekly

"Energy is necessary for everything we value in life, and the world will need gargantuan amounts of safe and reliable power to eliminate poverty, decarbonize the economy, and feed entirely new demands like artificial intelligence. Going Nuclear shows where this energy will come from-- and not as a last resort, but as the enabler of a new chapter in human progress. This is a thrilling book: vividly written, filled with fascinating facts, and inspiring in its vision for the future."--Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor, Harvard University and author of Enlightenment Now

"You will struggle to find anyone who brings nuclear power to life quite like Tim Gregory. You can feel the enthusiasm jump from the page. There's lots to debate, but I challenge you to read this book and not be excited about how we get on and power the world with sustainable energy for the next century."--Hannah Ritche, author of Not the End of the World

Praise for Meteorite

"Gregory is a geologist with an enthusiasm for storytelling."-- "The New York Times"

"A colorful tapestry of historical and scientific stories with an eye towards the latest developments. A passionate communicator, Gregory conjures environments and events far outside the human experience."-- "Nature"

"Meticulously researched and eminently readable. Meteorite is a treasure"-- "The Wall Street Journal"

About the Author

Dr. Tim Gregory works full-time as a nuclear chemist in the heart of the British nuclear industry. In 2017, Tim surpassed thousands of applicants for a place in the six-part BBC2 series Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?, where he was put through the full rigours of astronaut selection and reached the final three. Since then, he has gone on to present a segment about meteorites on BBC4's The Sky at Night and has made live television appearances on BBC Breakfast, BBC Look North, and BBC Points West.