THE threat of nuclear devastation has haunted the world since the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan and the fear has only been ratcheted by recent fears about Iran’s capability and the thought of a terrorist group using the ultimate.

Now along comes John Mueller as a knight on a white charger to banish these scary monsters and to save us from frightening ourselves to death.

He methodically demolishes the arguments for possession nuclear weapons; rubbishes their effectiveness and cost and cuts the dangers of proliferation down to size, as well as any potential terrorist nuclear threat. He does not pretend that everything in the garden is rosy – far from it – but believes a nuclear winter is not looming on the horizon.

Cold comfort, but some comfort at least.