Full Body Burden is Kristen Iversen's story of growing up in a small Colorado town close to Rocky Flats; a secret nuclear weapons plant. It's also a book about the destructive power of secrets—both family secrets and government secrets. Her father's hidden liquor bottles; the strange cancers in children in the neighborhood; the truth about what they made at Rocky Flats—best not to inquire too deeply into any of it. But as Iversen grew older; she began to ask questions and discovered some disturbing realities.As this memoir unfolds; it reveals itself as a brilliant work of investigative journalism—a shocking account of the government's sustained attempt to conceal the effects of the toxic and radioactive waste released by Rocky Flats; and of local residents' vain attempts to seek justice in court. Based on extensive interviews; FBI and EPA documents; and class-action testimony; this taut; beautifully written book promises to have a very long half-life.Now with Extra Libris material; including a reader’s guide and bonus content
#1358812 in Books Vintage 2013-01-08 2013-01-08Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.99 x .74 x 5.17l; .56 #File Name: 0307741869256 pages
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Ice ballon story fillerBy rclAs several others have noted; this book does not spend much time (only 30% of the book) on the actual journey and activities of Andree and his crew after their launch. They don't get off the ice in their ballon until page 148; and are dead on page 221 (total pages in the book 239). Another major gripe is the total lack of a map that is readable and of any value. The few maps included are small; of a large scale; poorly reproduced; and totally useless. In the exploration books I read; I refer to the maps constantly; otherwise; why bother mentioning lots of specific geographic names and locations? I want to follow the expedition!! I had to refer to maps in other books to get a partial understanding of where things happened. The quality of the pictures included is also poor (and they are small).The author did short summaries of several other Arctic explorations and disasters; and you would be much better off spending your time reading the excellent Ghosts of Cape Sabine about the Greely Expedition; and Icebound; about De Long's attempt to reach the pole from the Bering Sea. Both of these are epic stories of survival and exploration with great maps. Another book that does an excellent job of summarizing expeditions to the Pole and search of the NW Passage is The Arctic Grail (670 pages!).Take my advice and buy these other books instead; you won't be disappointed. Wilkinson should have titled his book "Information about stuff that happened before Andree launched his ballon to the Pole".12 of 13 people found the following review helpful. Pleasant read; but not entirely satisfyingBy D. WatsonThis is a perfectly fine book - well written and dealing with an interesting and unexpected aspect of polar exploration. If it is your first foray into the history of arctic exploration; you are likely to enjoy it more than someone who has already looked into the substantial literature that is already out there. Or if you are simply interested in all things arctic; you will likely find something to appreciate.Still; I would agree with some of the other reviewers that; in the the end; you have a sense that the basic source material was insufficient to fill a book on the Andree expedition. There are substantial sections dealing with the Greely expedition and Nansen; neither of which have much of a direct relation to the Andree story. In the case of Greely; the link appears to be his public statement of skepticism about Andree's balloon idea. Not much else; but we still get a rather lengthy account of the well-known Greely story. I enjoyed the book and learned a few things about balloons and about the arctic; but I cannot praise it as highly as some others have done.6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. My grandpas cousin was on the balloonBy anders w]My grandpas cousin Nils Strindberg was on the balloon. I have also been a hot air ballon pilot for 20 years. That is the reason why I bought the book. I also have the original book from the expedition. And that book now has got a good company in the shelf. IMHO the book don't reveals any new information about that expedition. But it is fascinating to read the authors thouhts about it. Of course I was interested in Strindberg because it is family. My niece did a special paper in school about the life of Nils Stridberg before the expedition and how the family coped after his disappereance Nils father Oscar called Occa newer stop to mourn an wrote a poem to his lost son on his birthdays. The book is also a very good compilation of other expeditions to the artic and the age of Arctic expeditions in the backlight of the Andrée expedition. I recommend the book highly. anders wasen Strindberg's StarLetters from the Andree Party. The Balloon Expedition to the Pole - An Account of the Start by Andree's Fellow - Voyager Nils Strindberg - Letters Relating to the Expedition from Strindberg's Father.With the Eagle on the Pole : Andrees Polar Expedition in 1897 : The Complete Record of His 1897 Polar Balloon Flight (Med Ornen Mot Pole : Andrees Polarexpedition AR 1897) ** Swedish Edition **With the Eagle on the Pole : Andrees Polar Expedition in 1897 : The Complete Record of His 1897 Polar Balloon Flight (Med Ornen Mot Pole : Andrees Polarexpedition AR 1897) ** Swedish Edition **][[ASIN:0436505029 The Flight of the Eagle
