Toxic

A History of Nerve Agents, from Nazi Germany to Putin's Russia

By: Dan Kaszeta

Narrated by: Paul Heitsch

Nerve agents are the world's deadliest means of chemical warfare. Nazi Germany developed the first military-grade nerve agents and massive industry for their manufacture - yet, strangely, the Third Reich never used them. At the end of the Second World War, the Allies were stunned to discover this advanced and extensive program. The Soviets and Western powers embarked on a new arms race, amassing huge chemical arsenals.

From their Nazi invention to the 2018 Novichok attack in Britain, Dan Kaszeta uncovers nerve agents' gradual spread across the world, despite international arms control efforts. They've been deployed in the Iran-Iraq War, by terrorists in Japan, in the Syrian Civil War, and by assassins in Malaysia and Salisbury - always with bitter consequences.

Toxic recounts the grisly history of these weapons of mass destruction: a deadly suite of invisible, odorless killers.

©2020 Dan Kaszeta (P)2021 Tantor

Thorough, detailed, but carefully and well constructed to be enjoyable and accessible.

This book completely demystifies the subject. It is accessible without being oversimplified. Knowledge is half the battle.

Very important for this day & age.

In today's current climate of tensions and conflicts, this is an important lesson on the state of CW arsenals and how they are used.

Excellent history of agents

Well written history of nerve agent development and history.

The appendix was the most succinct explanation of the the pathophysiology I have ever read.

Very informative

The book related, what could be very technical information and data in a straight forward, manner that can be easily understood

Great insight on nerve agents

If you are into chemical warfare and military history, this is fantastic book to listen.