Everybody "knows" something about Chernobyl, and I, probably like most people, thought I knew more than I did. Reading this book showed me just how little I truly knew, and it was a fascinating, horrifying, engrossing read. The in-depth context at the beginning really helped set the scene, especially as a terrible thread running throughout the book: incompetence combined with pride in a bureaucracy is a recipe for disaster. ESPECIALLY in a nation steeped in secrecy.

It really is terrifying to think about how the actions of one nation can negatively impact all of us; we tend to think of ourselves, I believe, as for the most part in charge of our own destinies. External events affect us, of course, but we do have the power to respond to things in any way we choose. This book demonstrates the frightening reality that lack of information can drive us down paths we don't know we are choosing, and determine our fates in ways we don't understand until it's far too late for us. It's really a chilling thought, how much power government and leadership (even of other countries!) hold over us without our complete knowledge.

And the disaster itself, as described, was such an incredible nightmare. I wish I understood more of the science or could've kept more of the names straight, but their fates nestled into the horror story really confirmed the true tragedy of Chernobyl: lack of accountability and honesty reap disaster.