The Curve of Binding Energy (1974) Signed First Edition Reference

The Curve of Binding Energy (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1974) profiles Theodore Taylor, the physicist who designed some of the most efficient nuclear weapons ever built, and who became deeply alarmed by how easily a determined individual could construct a crude nuclear device from commercially available materials. The book caused genuine alarm in government circles upon publication. McPhee balances the physics of fission with Taylor’s moral evolution from bomb-designer to nuclear security advocate.

Signed Copy Market Values

• Signed first in jacket: $100–$250
• Unsigned first in jacket: $30–$60

A McPhee title that remains startlingly relevant — nuclear security collectors and science writing enthusiasts drive demand.