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Imaginary Weapons

A Journey Through the Pentagon's Scientific Underworld

Sharon Weinberger
June 2006     ISBN: 1560258497

Despite its dubious origins--a fluke experiment involving a used dental X-ray machine and a dab of radioactive material called hafnium--the isomer bomb was conceived in 1998 as the next wave of cutting-edge military technology, a futuristic weapon so powerful it would rival the nuclear bomb.

With dark humor and access to original source materials--including interviews, e-mails and internal Pentagon documents--author Sharon Weinberger exposes the ideology-driven "true believers" in the Pentagon who, for five years, ignored scientific experts to pursue this fictional weapon of mass destruction.

Imaginary Weapons exposes the decline of scientific expertise within US security agencies and the government's increasing susceptibility to outlandish claims about the technologies of war.

About the Authors

Sharon Weinberger is the editor of Defense Technology International and has reported on national security and defense technology since 2001 for publications including Slate and the Washington Post Magazine.
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Deborah Stone's Book Tour

July 7 - November 2 | Across the United States
Deborah Stone, a Nation Books author, recently published her fourth book, The Samaritan's Dilemma. Robert Kuttner, co-editor of The American Prospect calls it "a brilliant and persuasive statement of the case for organized compassion—not out of sentimentality but for the viability of society and our own self regard as a decent people." Listen to her on the radio and get a copy of the book signed at a bookstore on Stone's book tour. Find the schedule here.

September 9 | 7 pm
Author Talk and Book Signing: Larry Beinhart
(Partners & Crime, Greenwich Village, NYC)
Nation Books author Larry Beinhart will talk about and sign copies of his newest detective mystery novel, Salvation Boulevard at independent specialty New York City bookstore, Partners & Crime. The event will take place on Tuesday, September 9, from 7 p.m. onwards. MORE

September 10 | 9 am
Larry Bienhart on Albany, NY Local Radio to Discuss New Book
(Roundtable, WAMC-AM, Albany, New York)
Listen to Nation Books author Larry Beinhart discuss his latest detective mystery, Salvation Boulevard, with Andy Clegg, Sarah LaDuke and Joe Donahue on Albany WAMC-AM's Roundtable radio show.

Roundtable airs every weekday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. MORE

September 13
2008 ELECTION: What's Really at Stake?
(Cooper Union Auditorium, 30 Cooper Square, NYC)
Come listen to Institute Fellows Naomi Klein and Jeremy Scahill (also a Nation Books author of Blackwater) speak at a benefit for The Indypendent newspaper at Cooper Union Auditorium in New York City. Additional panelists to be announced; meet the speakers at a special pre-event reception. For more information and to reserve tickets, visit indypendent.org or call (212)-221-0521. MORE

September 13 - 14
Larry Beinhart Talks About Salvation Boulevard on Air America Radio
(Ring of Fire, Air America Radio)
Listen to Nation Books author Larry Beinhart (author of Wag the Dog and The Librarian) talk about his newest novel, Salvation Boulevard, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mike Papantonio on Air America Radio's Ring of Fire. MORE

September 15
Larry Beinhart on Joey Reynolds Show
(WOR-AM, New York City)
Listen to Larry Beinhart (author of Wag the Dog and The Librarian) talk about his newest book, Salvation Boulevard on the Joey Reynolds Show. The radio talk show airs every weeknight from midnight to 5 a.m. MORE