Wherever disaster and death is concerned, there is always a sense of intrigue. Why else do we focus on disasters such as the Titanic, 9/11, or Deepwater Horizon if not for a strange pull that we feel towards tragedy? I learned about Chernobyl many years ago when I stumbled across urbexing on YouTube. After falling down a rabbit hole of abandoned buildings, it was inevitable that the town of Pripyat and Chernobyl would emerge as one of the most notorious abandoned towns, probably in the world. 

To get to the point, Adam Higginbotham's detailed explanation of the numerous events surrounding the disaster is not my introduction on the subject. Perhaps my interest in the subject influenced my four-star rating, but I found the no-nonsense approach to the topic essential to the telling of a truly scientific disaster. Although my eyes did glaze over some of the more technical numbers, I also believe that it is essential to understand—at least at the most superficial level—the workings of an RBMK nuclear reactor. Additionally important, which was another interesting read, was the history of radioactivity. The tragedy of the Radium Girls and Marie Curie's eventual death were only preludes to the real horror that occured in Chernobyl. I applaud Higginbotham on his ability to objectively relate to the reader this information while at the same time conveying a sense of horror and unease. 

Maybe I'm biased, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A few parts of the book were laborious to get through, and other parts seemed redundant. Despite this, I think that this was a worthwhile read, especially to those who are only just dipping their toes into the disaster. I would also suggest this to fans of the HBO miniseries who are interested in topics that expand beyond what the show covers.