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HomeShop at BookSurgeScienceAstrophysics & Space ScienceAim High!: Thorium energy cheaper than from coal solves more than just global warming. |
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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 6 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 found the following review helpful:
 Too little for the money May 08, 2009
By Hilmantel
"hilmantel"
The author discusses important and interesting ideas, and expresses them clearly. But the book is little more than a long pamphlet containing a PowerPoint presentation. When I ordered, I hadn't noticed that the description said it was only 40 pages. Most of the information is available on the author's website.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 Thorium fuel in fluid reactors promises safe, cheap energy Nov 03, 2009
By Robert Hargraves
This booklet is a summary of Dr Hargraves' presentation to Dartmouth College, Columbia Earth Institute, American Nuclear Society, Washington DC lawmakers, and others. Its strong graphics illustrate how an overlooked technology could change the world. Better than carbon taxes, energy cheaper than from coal will dissuade developing nations from burning coal for the energy needed for a prosperous lifestyle as enjoyed in the OECD nations. This prosperity also leads women to have fewer children, ending the world overpopulation crisis that saps our dwindling natural resources and increases pollution.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Aim higher next time, Doc Nov 05, 2011
By Ashtar Command
"Seeker"
"Aim High" isn't a book. It's not even a proper booklet or pamphlet. Rather, it's a power-point presentation also available for free at the author's website. I don't mind supporting Team Thorium with a couple of bucks, but it would have been better if Robert Hargraves had aimed higher and published a real book about the need for thorium-based nuclear power. Or at least a proper campaign pamphlet. Even apart from the fact that his presentation feels somewhat confused and not always very informative... Two stars, Doctor.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 A Dynamic and Accessible Intro to Thorium Energy Resources Jan 22, 2011
By Chad M
This booklet is well-suited to the general public and provides a clear and interesting overview of carbon-free nuclear energy. As the James Lovelock writes, nuclear energy is a resource derived from the Earth itself, and is the only viable way to power modern civilization while at the same time avoiding global heating and a new "hot state" for the Earth.
The author shows how vast thorium resources can be used in nuclear reactors; how this process has a great safety record; and the very small amounts of manageable by-products can be stored.
There is also a discussion of several reactor types, including the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR). This reactor can be configured to use fuel mixture of uranium and thorium along with a gas coolant (helium, or carbon dioxide, or another inert or semi-inert gas).
The other Amazon critics who wanted a lengthy book may need to realize that the general public will not usually read 100 or 200 page technical journals, and are actually more likely to read Dr. Hargraves book. Hargraves book is also less costly than new hardcovers and it can easily be mailed to Congressional Representatives and Senators. For the Amazon critics who want longer books, such books are readily available from the IAEA for about $25 each. There are long discussions of thorium in the "Megawatts and Megatons" book, an overview of thorium in "Whole Earth Discipline" by Stewart Brand, and a summary in "Power Hungry" by Robert Bryce, . In addition, Pigford has a well written thorium fuel cycle book for about $20.
A few outstanding issues with the LFTR in Hargraves book are the availability of beryllium and the track record of liquid metal cooled reactors. While these reactors are worth more research, the PBMR can also be mass-produced in 120 Megawatt modular units, and the PBMR taps into vast thorium energy resources.
Regarding reactor types I would like to see more analysis of the PBMR, as this reactor is favored by the Department of Energy (DoE) Next Generation Nuclear Program, by Richard A. Muller (in "Physics for Future Presidents") and by Vaclav Smil in "Energy for Beginners". In addition, Vaclav Smil has an excellent discussion about nuclear energy and decides in favor of it in his new book "Energy Myths and Realities".
Thorium power NOW Feb 08, 2012
By Bookaholic
Excellent idea and good job presenting it. The world leaders need to know more about the options to creating clean abundant power and help to clean up the old uranium mess at the same time. The book is a combination of different specialist power point presentations and needs to have a cohesive art director to clear up the distration and present a more consistant message. The book does fail to present a solution to the underlying reason why Uranium is prefered by political/military powers over thorium, which is that Uranium's by product is Plutonium, which is needed for smaller nukes, MIRV capability and triggering Hbombs, etc. You cant get them to switch over (which ould take only a few years) without showing them how they can still make all the plutonium they want.
See all 6 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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