J. Samuel Walker is the historian of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. His previous books include Permissible Dose: A History of Radiation Protection in the Twentieth Century (California, 2000) and Containing the Atom: Nuclear Regulation in a Changing Environment, 1963-1971 (California, 1992).

• List of Illustrations Preface 1. The Nuclear Power Debate 2. The Regulation of Nuclear Power 3. Defense in Depth 4. Wednesday, March 28, 1979: "This Is the Biggie" 5. Thursday, March 29: "The Danger Is Over for People Off Site" 6. Friday, March 30: "Going to Hell in a Handbasket" 7. Saturday, March 31: "You're Causing a Panic!" 8. Sunday, April 1: "Look What We Have Done to These Fine People" 9. The Immediate Aftermath of the Accident 10. The Long-Term Effects of Three Mile Island Notes Essay on Sources Index

"Walker has produced a superb and balanced account, one of the few that attempts to set both the accident and the efforts to understand and cope with it into a broader historical and regulatory context." - Gene I. Rochlin, Science (aaas) "[A] day-by-day breakdown of the accident and the reaction from politicians, media and the public, all told with simplicity and a harsh poignancy." - Simon Garfield, Financial Times "Reminiscent in its capacity to grip the imagination of the accounts of the Cuban missile crisis." - Frank Gray, World Energy Review"

J. Samuel Walker is the historian of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. His previous books include Permissible Dose: A History of Radiation Protection in the Twentieth Century (California, 2000) and Containing the Atom: Nuclear Regulation in a Changing Environment, 1963-1971 (California, 1992).

• List of Illustrations Preface 1. The Nuclear Power Debate 2. The Regulation of Nuclear Power 3. Defense in Depth 4. Wednesday, March 28, 1979: "This Is the Biggie" 5. Thursday, March 29: "The Danger Is Over for People Off Site" 6. Friday, March 30: "Going to Hell in a Handbasket" 7. Saturday, March 31: "You're Causing a Panic!" 8. Sunday, April 1: "Look What We Have Done to These Fine People" 9. The Immediate Aftermath of the Accident 10. The Long-Term Effects of Three Mile Island Notes Essay on Sources Index

"Walker has produced a superb and balanced account, one of the few that attempts to set both the accident and the efforts to understand and cope with it into a broader historical and regulatory context." - Gene I. Rochlin, Science (aaas) "[A] day-by-day breakdown of the accident and the reaction from politicians, media and the public, all told with simplicity and a harsh poignancy." - Simon Garfield, Financial Times "Reminiscent in its capacity to grip the imagination of the accounts of the Cuban missile crisis." - Frank Gray, World Energy Review"

J. Samuel Walker is the historian of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. His previous books include Permissible Dose: A History of Radiation Protection in the Twentieth Century (California, 2000) and Containing the Atom: Nuclear Regulation in a Changing Environment, 1963-1971 (California, 1992).

• List of Illustrations Preface 1. The Nuclear Power Debate 2. The Regulation of Nuclear Power 3. Defense in Depth 4. Wednesday, March 28, 1979: "This Is the Biggie" 5. Thursday, March 29: "The Danger Is Over for People Off Site" 6. Friday, March 30: "Going to Hell in a Handbasket" 7. Saturday, March 31: "You're Causing a Panic!" 8. Sunday, April 1: "Look What We Have Done to These Fine People" 9. The Immediate Aftermath of the Accident 10. The Long-Term Effects of Three Mile Island Notes Essay on Sources Index

"Walker has produced a superb and balanced account, one of the few that attempts to set both the accident and the efforts to understand and cope with it into a broader historical and regulatory context." - Gene I. Rochlin, Science (aaas) "[A] day-by-day breakdown of the accident and the reaction from politicians, media and the public, all told with simplicity and a harsh poignancy." - Simon Garfield, Financial Times "Reminiscent in its capacity to grip the imagination of the accounts of the Cuban missile crisis." - Frank Gray, World Energy Review"