Secrecy
This entire book revolves around a problem that is unknown to most of the country. When D'Agata goes out in search of answers for his questions about Yucca Mountain, he runs into a lot of vague reassurances and denials without any specific answers. For example, he wants to know why the estimated number of years necessary for the mountain to hold its integrity has been set at 10,000 years. The immediate response is that 10,000 years is the half-life of the radioactive material, but this isn't satisfactory; after just one half-life, that much radiation could still kill you almost instantly. He goes to many different people and organizations, each of which simply refers him to someone else. Finally he arrives at a scientist who tells him that 10,000 years is too short a time for it to be safe, but the people in charge made up that number anyway, making the situation only slightly more clear than it had been previously.
Mercenary Politics
At the time of the beginning of the book, the people of Las Vegas believe they have an ally and advocate in Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, who initially brings this issue before the Senate and firmly fights for the protection of the people of the city. Soon afterward, though, it comes to light that he has accepted sizable donations from the very companies in charge of the Yucca Mountain project, his idealistic stance suddenly evaporating.
Depression in Paradise
Las Vegas is a city of contradictions. It is seen as a luxury vacation spot and one of the best cites in the country in which to live, but the people there are more unhappy as a whole than are those elsewhere. The city has all the attractions of a thrilling life, but its inhabitants are generally more depressed, less faithful in marriage, and more suicidal than those in other places. This ironic depression is a theme throughout the book, especially in context of the suicide of Levi Presley, which closes the final chapter.
Intersection of Nature and Urban Life
The book looks at the differences between the man-made, artificial environment of Las Vegas and the surrounding natural surroundings. This theme examines how each impacts and shapes the other, highlighting the conflict between urbanization and the natural environment.
