This book investigates the technical and human failures that led to the 1979 nuclear accident at the Three Mile Island power plant. Daniel F. Ford, a former director of the Union of Concerned Scientists, utilizes internal documents and regulatory records to construct a detailed account of the event. He argues that systemic negligence and inadequate safety protocols within the nuclear industry created the conditions for the near-catastrophic meltdown.

Experts and critics recognize this work as a significant critique of nuclear safety standards during the late twentieth century. Readers frequently note the technical detail provided regarding the mechanical failures at the plant.