Essay Questions

What would be the problem with turning Yucca Mountain into a nuclear waste deposit?

In About a Mountain, John D'Agata explores the potential consequences of turning Yucca Mountain into a nuclear waste repository. Some of the potential problems that D'Agata discusses include the potential for accidents or leaks, which could release radioactive materials into the environment and pose a risk to human health. There are also concerns about the long-term stability of the site since nuclear waste can remain radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years. Additionally, there are political and social issues surrounding the use of Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository, including questions of fairness and the potential for negative impacts on the local community.

Explain the controversy over the authenticity of this book's research.

About a Mountain is a nonfiction book by John D'Agata that explores the controversial issue of nuclear waste disposal in the United States. The book is notable for the controversy surrounding its research, as D'Agata has been accused of fabricating or altering certain details in his account.
One of the main points of contention has been D'Agata's treatment of statistics and other factual information. Some critics have accused D'Agata of manipulating or exaggerating certain data to support his arguments or to create a more dramatic narrative. Others have questioned the veracity of certain anecdotes and personal stories that D'Agata includes in the book, suggesting that he may have invented or embellished these accounts. Overall, the controversy over the authenticity of the research in "About a Mountain" has called into question the trustworthiness of the book as a factual account and has raised concerns about the reliability of D'Agata as an author.