The Kremlin's Nuclear Sword: The Rise and Fall of Russia's Strategic Nuclear Forces, 1945-2000

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Steve Zaloga does an amazing job discussing a very diverse subject that covers the entire Cold War period between the US and USSR. He not only describes the Kremlin's nuclear weapons technology, but he delivers a history of the politics that inspired the development and deployment of the weapons. Zaloga's style is smooth and keeps the reader interested in the topic, and he manages to keep the reader from being bored while covering the often-times mundane details. I would highly recommend this book for use withing a graduate level history course.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Steve Zaloga does an amazing job discussing a very diverse subject that covers the entire Cold War period between the US and USSR. He not only describes the Kremlin's nuclear weapons technology, but he delivers a history of the politics that inspired the development and deployment of the weapons. Zaloga's style is smooth and keeps the reader interested in the topic, and he manages to keep the reader from being bored while covering the often-times mundane details. I would highly recommend this book for use withing a graduate level history course.

Rating:
Summary: Superb History of Soviet/Russian Weapons System
Review: Zaloga has done a masterful job of describing the internal politics that kept the Soviet program from achieving maximum efficiency in their arms race with the USA. Still, one has to admire the dogged determination the Soviets showed in this pursuit. He also updates the reader on the decrepit state of the post-Soviet arsenal today. That is even scarier than the past flirtation with Armageddon.