Minuteman: A Technical History of the Missile That Defined American Nuclear Warfare Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

David Stumpf (Author), Douglas R Pratt (Narrator), University Press Audiobooks (Publisher)

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In Minuteman: A Technical History of the Missile That Defined American Nuclear Warfare, David K. Stumpf demystifies the intercontinental ballistic missile program that was conceived at the end of the Eisenhower administration as a key component of the US nuclear strategy of massive retaliation. Although its nuclear warhead may have lacked power relative to that of the Titan II, the Minuteman more than made up for this in terms of numbers and readiness to launch - making it the ultimate ICBM.

Minuteman offers a fascinating look at the technological breakthroughs necessary to field this weapon system that has served as a powerful component of the strategic nuclear triad for more than half a century. With exacting detail, Stumpf examines the construction of launch and launch control facilities; innovations in solid propellant, lightweight inertial guidance systems, and lightweight reentry vehicle development; and key flight tests and operational flight programs - all while situating the Minuteman program in the context of world events. In doing so, the author reveals how the historic missile has adapted to changing defense strategies - from counterforce to mutually assured destruction to sufficiency.

The book is published by The University of Arkansas Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

“An exceptionally important contribution to the historiography of air power and the strategic triad.” (Roger D. Launius, author of Reaching for the Moon)

“An important addition to the literature on the history of US strategic missiles." (Christopher John Gainor, author of The Bomb and America’s Missile Age)

“A timely and valuable contribution.” (Leonard H. Caveny, former director of science and technology, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization)

Listening Length

19 hours and 3 minutes
Author

David Stumpf
Narrator

Douglas R Pratt
Audible release date

June 1 2021
Language

English
Publisher

University Press Audiobooks
ASIN

B096BNPNS8
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	19 hours and 3 minutes
Author	David Stumpf
Narrator	Douglas R Pratt
Audible.ca Release Date	June 01 2021
Publisher	University Press Audiobooks
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B096BNPNS8
Best Sellers Rank	#133,466 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #318 in Astronomy & Space Science (Audible Books & Originals) #369 in Armed Forces Military History #386 in Computer History & Culture (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

82 global ratings

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4 star		16%
3 star		8%
2 star		2%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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alain Drouillard

Les Informations

Reviewed in France 🇫🇷 on June 4, 2021

Verified Purchase

Très informatif sur le programme Minuteman. Très Détaillé

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Dr. Terrence McGarty

Comprehensive But Limited in Overall Discussion

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 21, 2021

Verified Purchase

This is a comprehensive description of almost everything about the Minuteman system. It is an exposition of facts about each elements from fuels to launch sites. However in my opinion it lacks some of the peripheral details even for an experienced hand.

I approached this book having spent time in the 60s at MIT Instrumentation Lab of Doc Draper working on Navigation and Guidance systems. In the late 70s I spent time as an advisor to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty negotiations and thus gained some expertise on devices. I recall the complexity of all of these issues as well as placing deliverables on various launch vehicles. The thought of targeting a 50 MT warhead to within 150 m of a target some 9000 km away id daunting. Vehicle dynamics are highly complex and onboard guidance systems must be exceptionally accurate and survivable. This book addresses these issues.

The book details each of the systems that make for the delivery platform and goes into detail as regards to the launch facilities and controls. The detail is significant.

However the book does read as if it were some Congressional Reports, filled with details. It does not educate the uneducated. For example how does the guidance and navigation work? How accurate was the system? What failure modes had been experienced? What was the impact on use? And the list goes on. If you know a great deal already you can fill in some of the blank spots.

Overall the book is a comprehensive listing of facts. If however one is seeking to understand the Minuteman as a system and how it functions and what it was intended to do, I feel the book falls short.

15 people found this helpful

Mark D. Rice

Any warhead yield with any size of our missile can ruin anyone's day.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 9, 2021

Verified Purchase

I have been a big fan of missiles for many years. This book is so technologically detailed I've ever read. Detailed enough to make your head spin like the gyroscope in the guidance bay because I could tell that the author worked so hard on writing those books and made sure he left nothing out. The money I spend on it was worth it. Keep up the good work so I hope to see more of his books. I have another of his book, "Titan II" so it was well worth my time reading it. Don't let two of his books "Titan II" and "Minuteman" vanished from your library due to unobtainability. I know you'll regret big time if you allow those books to be gone. In addition, your head could explode like those 9-megaton W53 or 1.2-megaton W56 warheads when you find you're unable to obtain them. Get them while they’re still around. What’s more, they’ll be priceless enough to make your wallet light as a feather and see it flying away.

3 people found this helpful

Shawn Saez

Very detailed.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 28, 2021

Verified Purchase

Like the other book by this author covering the Titan II, this book is a thorough and highly detailed volume about the Minuteman ICBM. Everything from events leading up to it's design, to it's manufacturing and construction of it's launch and control facilities, basing/deployment, and details of it's design and features is covered in this book. (So much info is presented that I'm surprised that some of the info here is not considered to be classified information.) As the title states, it is a technical work that may be challenging for someone without a knowledge of aeronautical engineering and rocket science to fully grasp in some places, but for one with a basic understanding of the overall concepts involved and with a keen interest in the design and history of the Minuteman system and US strategic nuclear weapons systems, this is a treasure trove of written information, diagrams and rarely seen photos.

One person found this helpful

el jefe

A subject matter Magnum Opus

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 8, 2021

Verified Purchase

Comprehensive research. Well organized. Depth of material...INCREDIBLE! I have the Audible and hardbound copy. I've listened and read simultaneously several chapters multiple times.

A sobering expose' of the straights and weakness of a critical weapons system's development.

Only complaint...reader of Audible version, constantly saying the reading out acronyms vs stay common accepted terminology. E.g. SAC ...S, A, C. not "sack". LCC, "L, C, C". not Launch control center. "L, F", not Launch facility. Drives me nuts. But no so much as to diminish value of content.

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