Books with author David Badger

Nuclear weapons have a destructive capacity so catastrophic that many historians argue their invention issued in a new era, the Atomic Age. Readers will learn about the scientific discoveries in the early twentieth century, such as the structure of the atom and the existence of isotopes, that led scientists to first conceive of nuclear weapons. They'll read how first the Americans, and later the Russians, British, French, and Chinese developed nuclear weapons. Attention is also paid to later nuclear powers and those currently aspiring to join the nuclear club. Visual learners will appreciate the many photographs, maps, diagrams, and graphs that this fascinating book contains.

It's a bit of an open secret that reconnaissance satellites, or spy satellites, as they're often known, play a big part in American intelligence-gathering efforts. They're indispensible tools in the ongoing War on Terror. While information about the country's current satellites is classified, curious minds can learn all about the development of spy satellites in this informative tome. Highlights include WS-117L, CORONA, SAMOS, GAMBIT, HEXAGON, DORIAN, and KENNEN, all of which are introduced with detailed diagrams and multiple photographs. Other topics covered include the methods of aerial reconnaissance that predated satellites, the various types of intelligence that are routinely gathered, and an overview of the U.S. intelligence community.