The Radioactive Boy Scout: The Frightening True Story of a Whiz Kid and His Homemade Nuclear Reactor

JJ

My View:   This true tale is absolutely the most frightening story of what happens when genius goes unnoticed. The book alternates between David's story and the history and science of radiation, including the Manhattan Project and the Three Mile Island disaster. It thoroughly explains the cons of nuclear power, but falls short on describing positive aspects of the technology. The personal quotes filling the book, from sources such as David's ex-girlfriend, David's parents, and David himself, let you explore the inner workings of an unbridled genius mind and understand the path that led to an EPA/Superfund clean-up of a  Detroit suburb's backyard. Barely worth a re-read for the excellent information and the engaging, if cookie-cutter newspaperman style of writing which leaves you wanting to learn more about David's life and experiments. Exciting, fast-paced plot. Interesting enough story, but nothing new, special, or creative about the writing. Here's something fantastically freaky, though. Mr. Radioactive Boy Scout never stopped enjoying dangerously tampering with machinery. Here's his mugshot from a few years back when he was arrested stealing fire detectors.

 FREAKY

Wikipedia Link: N/A

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Radioactive-Boy-Scout-Backyard-Nuclear/dp/037550351X

General Information:

Method of Reading:	Personally owned paperback novel, 209 pages
Dates of Reading:	December 13, 2009-December 14, 2009
Author:	Ken Silverstein
Publication Year:	2004
Recommended To:	People interested in science or radioactivity (who are not obsessive). Probably over age 13. I read it for Chemistry extra credit, and its good for impressing teachers because its short, easy to understand, and interesting.
Quotes:
Movie?	No. Thank goodness.

Always,
Your Bibliomaniac

Bibliographic info:
Silverstein, Ken. The Radioactive Boy Scout: The True Story of a Boy and His Backyard Nuclear Reactor. New York: Random House, 2004. Print.