The author, an established author and journalist, presents a sweeping, readable synopsis of the nuclear age, from the discovery of X-rays in 1895 to the Fukushima disaster in 2011. He divides the era into four parts: nascent nuclear science, the development and use of the atomic bomb, the Cold War arms race, and the Fukushima disaster. The book is peppered with interesting biographical information on those who participated in the discovery and uses of nuclear energy. It includes descriptions of nuclear weapons, power plants, and medical applications of nuclear energy. The author concludes that nuclear energy is a two-faced god which society must learn to deal with. The book is an accessible yet comprehensive overview of the Atomic Era and its legacy.