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The Nuclear Boy Scout
🕑 Added 2021-12-14 11:16:00 +0000 UTCThis story is one that I've wanted to cover for a while... it's one of those true stories that seems so strange and unlikely that it reads more like fiction. Although the ending is rather saddening, it was fascinating to research it.
One of my best sources in this case was the book The Radioactive Boy Scout by Ken Silverstein. It's a wonderfully detailed book that paints a nuanced and compassionate portrait of David and his actions.
If you want to learn more, you can read an abridged version in the archives of Harper's Magazine, and you might be able to get hold of a copy of the full text on Amazon, or by ordering through your local bookseller.
Comments
Fascinating Horror
I'd definitely recommend it. The author was someone who was able to speak to David personally, and so it's a really detailed portrait of a complex individual.
Fascinating Horror
Pleased that you found this route into your current life! I'm sure it can't have been easy. I really hope that as time goes on we'll get better at actually helping people in this kind of position - there's so much potential there, and so much of it is sadly wasted at the moment.
And as always, your presentation was killer! I’m with Erica, what a waste! I was that kid growing up… tinkering with shit I wasn’t supposed to. Like him, I also didn’t get any direction or support, mostly condemnation…and I also turned to drugs and booze. The marks on his face were from him, during his use of methamphetamines, this I know. Very sad story. Fortunately, I found a way out, went and got an engineering degree, and haven’t touched booze or drugs in over 30 years… 😔🙏🏼
Dungeoneer
Fascinating indeed, I may well try to get hold of that book. Seems although flawed, he was a possible genius mind for chemistry.
