Official Review: Super Nuke! by Charles Cranston Jett
Posted: 25 May 2016, 11:13
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Super Nuke!" by Charles Cranston Jett.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Nuclear submarines are not things I've ever spent much time thinking about. I wasn't totally sure what made them nuclear or why they were even necessary for the military to use. I didn't understand the role they played in fighting (and winning) the Cold War. Fortunately, Super Nuke! a memoir by retired nuclear submariner Charles Cranston Jett, gave me a solid education in all things nuclear submarine related. I rated this book 4 out of 4 stars.
Author Charles Cranston Jett grew up far from the ocean in North and South Dakota and later graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1964. He chose to continue his career under the ocean in a submarine. He went through years of submarine and nuclear power training before stepping aboard his first vessel and due to all that intense training, knew his role inside and out. He was an officer on the nuclear submarine, USS Ray, and served on three missions. During his service, the USS Ray monitored the North Atlantic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea, crossed the Arctic Circle, and played a chess-like game with Russian submarines. At times the tension and danger the submarine crew felt very nearly jumped off the page.
While most of the memoir is quite technical and scientific, there were some charming stories included. My favorites were the chance encounters the author had with U.S. Presidents, as well as the clever and unexpected way Charles and his bachelor Navy buddies convinced a group of college girls to be bridge partners. I also enjoyed all the jokes and light-hearted moments the submarine crew enjoyed together. These humorous stories made the author feel like a real person and not just a Navy robot. Although Super Nuke! spends quite a bit of time describing the technology involved in nuclear submarines, the author also included several appendices for readers who want even more detailed information. There are also many photographs and diagrams that help the reader better understand what the author is describing.
Overall, I thought this book was very well-written and I enjoyed it very much. It is obvious that the author loved his time serving on a nuclear submarine. The respect and admiration he has for his fellow crew members and officers was evident as well as his dedication to the submarine and equipment he worked with. I appreciated the thoroughness in which Charles Cranston Jett described the science and technology behind the submarine and its nuclear power plant. I definitely better understand how a nuclear submarine works and why the nuclear submarine program was an important part of American history. At times, the technical aspects can feel a bit dry and reminded me of a textbook, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
I would recommend Super Nuke! to anyone interested in military history, the history of the Cold War, nuclear power and engineering, or those who enjoy interesting memoirs. The author seems very genuine and the kind of guy you’d like to spend hours talking to over a few beers. Since we can’t all do that, I’m glad he wrote this memoir.
******
Super Nuke!
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Nuclear submarines are not things I've ever spent much time thinking about. I wasn't totally sure what made them nuclear or why they were even necessary for the military to use. I didn't understand the role they played in fighting (and winning) the Cold War. Fortunately, Super Nuke! a memoir by retired nuclear submariner Charles Cranston Jett, gave me a solid education in all things nuclear submarine related. I rated this book 4 out of 4 stars.
Author Charles Cranston Jett grew up far from the ocean in North and South Dakota and later graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1964. He chose to continue his career under the ocean in a submarine. He went through years of submarine and nuclear power training before stepping aboard his first vessel and due to all that intense training, knew his role inside and out. He was an officer on the nuclear submarine, USS Ray, and served on three missions. During his service, the USS Ray monitored the North Atlantic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea, crossed the Arctic Circle, and played a chess-like game with Russian submarines. At times the tension and danger the submarine crew felt very nearly jumped off the page.
While most of the memoir is quite technical and scientific, there were some charming stories included. My favorites were the chance encounters the author had with U.S. Presidents, as well as the clever and unexpected way Charles and his bachelor Navy buddies convinced a group of college girls to be bridge partners. I also enjoyed all the jokes and light-hearted moments the submarine crew enjoyed together. These humorous stories made the author feel like a real person and not just a Navy robot. Although Super Nuke! spends quite a bit of time describing the technology involved in nuclear submarines, the author also included several appendices for readers who want even more detailed information. There are also many photographs and diagrams that help the reader better understand what the author is describing.
Overall, I thought this book was very well-written and I enjoyed it very much. It is obvious that the author loved his time serving on a nuclear submarine. The respect and admiration he has for his fellow crew members and officers was evident as well as his dedication to the submarine and equipment he worked with. I appreciated the thoroughness in which Charles Cranston Jett described the science and technology behind the submarine and its nuclear power plant. I definitely better understand how a nuclear submarine works and why the nuclear submarine program was an important part of American history. At times, the technical aspects can feel a bit dry and reminded me of a textbook, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
I would recommend Super Nuke! to anyone interested in military history, the history of the Cold War, nuclear power and engineering, or those who enjoy interesting memoirs. The author seems very genuine and the kind of guy you’d like to spend hours talking to over a few beers. Since we can’t all do that, I’m glad he wrote this memoir.
******
Super Nuke!
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Shelle's review? Post a comment saying so!
