The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and its Dangerous Legacy is a 2009 book written by David E. Hoffman, a Washington Post contributing editor. It was the winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. The book is based on a large number of published and unpublished sources, including interviews with political leaders, scientists, military officials and diplomats. The Russian automatic nuclear-control system known as "Dead Hand" is described in detail.