ARMS AND THE PHYSICIST,
H.F. York, American Institute of Physics, 1995, pp: 294, ISBN 1-56396-009-0; Price: $29.95).

This book is a series of essays on the author's experiences and opinions related to his career in the arms race in the USA. He first began as a graduate student in 1942 at the age of 21. He was recruited (later returning to earn his Ph.D.) to work on the Calutron, the first device designed to enrich uranium. In fact, he worked specifically to obtain U-235 for the bomb used over Hiroshima. He later became an influencial insider, working directly with the US President on issues related to arms control.

The book explores a great many topics associated with arms control, nuclear non-proliferation, and bi/multilateral agreements associated with these. The author naturally centres his discussion around his experiences in the USA. The approach taken in the US for non-proliferation of nuclear weapons is different from the approach taken in Canada or other countries involved in the supply of nuclear technologies. To be more concise, the USA is a nuclear weapon state, and as such, takes a different view of nuclear weapons – in general, every country in the world wants to see ALL nuclear weapons abolished, while the USA has shown in the past to only want the rest of the world not to have nuclear weapons. The USA sees the proliferation of nuclear weapons as a threat to national security (especially since 9/11) rather than a threat to global security.

In general, the author provides an interesting description of the historic aspects and significant events that have shaped our world with respect to nuclear weapons and modern defence. For example, he explains in some detail the statistical approach in assessing the use of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems, and he shows how such a system requires nearly 100% accuracy and effectiveness in eliminating an ICBM prior to its arrival over the target – of 50 missiles that might be shot during an event, if even one single weapons makes it through the anti-missile ‘curtain', this results in one nuclear explosion, which alone would have devastating effects. The book ends with some interesting opinions on the future of arms control.

My main criticism is that the chapters were written at different times and later compiled into the final work – this is made obvious by some of the wording in the text and in the preface. Unfortunately, the chapters are not dated as to when they were written. Therefore, references such as "20 years ago" have little meaning since his writings span over 20 years! There are also several inconsistencies: some chapters make reference to the photo section although the book has absolutely no photos, and the author refers to endnotes that do not exist in this publication. Also, the chapter order could have been optimised, with the chapters' being presented in chronological order of writing, at least.

Overall, I learned a great deal of history reading this book. The author's involvement allows a very personal perspective to the arms race between the USA and the USSR (now Russian Federation). It assumes a basic level of understanding of arms control, weapon design and US history. Not a thoroughly technical read, but very interesting nonetheless.

Mick Lord, P.Phys.
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission