The nuclear war begins with a point on a radar screen. Investigative journalist Annie Jacobsen outlines a scenario of three times 24 minutes: that’s how long it takes from the first detection of a nuclear cruise missile aimed at the USA to the then inevitable and devastating counterstrike and the end of the world as we know it. What happens next? How much time does the U.S. president have to decide how the counterstrike will look? Is there a functioning defense shield? Are the communication channels between the nuclear powers secure in case of an emergency? Is global escalation unavoidable? The scenario is fictional. The underlying parameters, command chains, enacted rules, and technical possibilities with their grim consequences are based on facts that the author has gathered through discussions with experts and insider sources. The result is a breathless reading experience full of highly interesting insights, terrifying, fascinating, and informative.