Reddit reviews On Thermonuclear War

Two of the best books that I have read are:

• The Evolution of Nuclear Strategy by Lawrence Freedman
  
• On Thermonuclear War by Herman Khan
  
  Those are comprehensive views of nuclear weapon strategy and plans for use during the Cold War. The first tracks how capability enhancement changed the geopolitical balance during the Cold War and also covers the Game Theory elements. The second is more about how to fight, and win, an all-out nuclear war.
  
  
  > In my essay, I reference the Cold War and mutually assured destruction.
  
  Nitpick: it's "mutual" not "mutually". The core concept is the capability of "Second Strike", that is, there is no route of attack against a nuclear armed power that would destroy that power's ability to inflict unacceptable losses on the attacker in retaliation.
  
  
  > The idea of nuclear weapons as a deterrent from war may seem ludicrous
  
  Nope. It does not seem ludicrous at all. In fact is is the orthodox view, then and now.