Über den Autor
Tom Clynes writes regularly for National Geographic and a contributing editor at Popular Science. His stories and photographs have also appeared in the Guardian, Men's Journal, Nature, the New York Times, the Sunday Times (London), the Washington Post, and many other publications.
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Adrenaline 2001: The Year's Best Stories of Adventure and Survival (2001) — Mitwirkender — 22 Exemplare
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I guess the recipe for more people like Taylor is comprised of having well off parents who set no limits for their kids. They let him trespass onto private property and steal radioactive materials, for crying out loud.
And he is so nonchalant about the dangers of radiation. Sure, alpha radiation could be stopped by your skin or a piece of paper. But what about all of the radioactive dust and dirt you're breathing in while digging at the mine? Now that emitter is in your body, where that same insignificant alpha radiation is now wreaking unknowable havoc. Radiation safety seemed like such a joke to him at times. Despite the one contamination check mentioned in the book, I really doubt a kid experimenting with radioactive materials managed to completely avoid contaminating his lab, his home, his family and himself.
The author tries to refute the idea that his parents monetary resources and social connections played a major part in Taylor's opportunities. I call major bullshit. He just can't see past the privilege.
I also don't believe the story in the beginning of the book about 9 year old Taylor at the USSRC astounding the docent, the director, historians and experts from across the center. I just don't see that happening and not a single name being recorded. I know some of these big names, and this just doesn't sound realistic. "Hey everybody, quit doing your job and get over here! There's a really smart kid you have to see!"
Also, there should have been some more careful fact checking of the text. Two obvious errors that jumped out at me were; 1. The 2nd and 3rd stages of the Saturn V were NOT solid fueled and 2. The events chronicled in Rocket Boys took place in West Virginia, not Tennessee.
Don't get me wrong, I hope Taylor gets to do amazing things and change the world. He just had a lot of people helping him to get where he is, including the astronaut whose name he couldn't bother to remember. (less)… (mehr)