Chernobyl 01:23:40 Audiobook By Andrew Leatherbarrow cover art

Chernobyl 01:23:40

The Incredible True Story of the World's Worst Nuclear Disaster

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

Chernobyl 01:23:40

By: Andrew Leatherbarrow
Narrated by: Michael Page
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

At 01:23:40 on April 26th 1986, Alexander Akimov pressed the emergency shutdown button at Chernobyl's fourth nuclear reactor. It was an act that forced the permanent evacuation of a city, killed thousands, and crippled the Soviet Union. The event spawned decades of conflicting, exaggerated, and inaccurate stories.

This book, the result of five years of research, presents an accessible but comprehensive account of what really happened - from the desperate fight to prevent a burning reactor core from irradiating eastern Europe, to the self-sacrifice of the heroic men who entered fields of radiation so strong that machines wouldn't work, to the surprising truth about the legendary "Chernobyl diver", all the way through to the USSR's final show-trial. The historical narrative is interwoven with a story of the author's own spontaneous journey to Ukraine's still-abandoned city of Pripyat and the wider Chernobyl Zone.

©2016 Andrew Leatherbarrow (P)2016 Tantor Russia Soviet Union Nuclear Disaster
Comprehensive Research • Accessible Explanations • Masterful Narration • Fascinating Historical Details • British Accent
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
Most of the information in this book is unknown to most Americans making it full of great surprises for mechanical type of guy's and a must listen to power plant personnel.

A GREAT READ<br />

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The author, through first hand accounts of his travels to Chernobyl following the disaster, and meticulous research of the event and what lead to it, does a remarkable job explaining such a complex subject with apparent ease. I could not walk away from this book without feeling as though I had been present when it happened. The skilful description of the abandoned city of Pripyat is haunting. The narration by the masterful narrator Michael Page brings each page to life. This audiobook is a must listen!

Fascinating account of worst nuclear disaster

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Allot of mistakes were made back then, but foolish Soviet era pride was their undoing.
Cutting corners, Not waiting for the more experienced engineering department to run the test on Reactor 4, led to one of the greatest Nuclear accidents of our time.
Chernobyl, was a mistake from day one. They now realise this type of reactor isn't good at all.
Great information on what makes these things tick.
Excellent narrative

great listen, highly recommended

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Very interesting and informative. I really liked the addition of the of author's travels to Chernobyl, it gave the listener an outside view of the place, it's surroundings, and a glimpse into the reality of today. The performance of Michael Page was not the best. The narration was very flat and somewhat boring to listen to, which was a shame since the story itself was superb.

Very interesting

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Really appreciate nuclear power more than I ever have. Admire the men on the cutting edge. Feel great sympathy for those who were used. Do not see this subject with the same eyes after listening to this book

Good Book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Love this book. I've listened many times. Thank you for sharing your story and all the in depth information on nuclear science.

Good "read" or listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
There are better books on Chernobyl. The author spends half the book describing his trip to Chernobyl. Not very substantive on the actual accident. No actual explanation of radiation, and at times flat out wrong information on radiation and radiation exposure.

Good Narrator, Crap book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Could have been a great travelog or a pedestrian story about a disaster.
Good as it is. I was left unfulfilled expecting a detailed technical explanation. Still an okay read.

What was this?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Could hardly understand the British accent the narrator had. Otherwise it was good. This is my review, had to get 15 words in

Interesting Soviet history

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Well, the author blatantly stated “I’m gunna write this as the facts and not my biased opinion,” and proceeds to offer … well…. Lots of opinion *facepalm*

Best narration possible, and good simplified take on events. Woulda been 5 star but…

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews