1.64k reviews for:

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

Martin J. Sherwin, Kai Bird

4.33 AVERAGE

cahelion's review against another edition

4.75

informative medium-paced

kingofblades113's review against another edition

5.0

informative reflective slow-paced

harry_burnham's review against another edition

5.0

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Excellent achievement!

abicaro17's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad slow-paced

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This book is incredibly slow and reads like a textbook but I think it's important to read. It brings an insight I don't think is readily taught about the Cold War and atomic energy dealings after the Trinity test. I would be the first to say i'm not normally interested in biographies but this account is so interesting and insightful it counteracts that. If readers can get past the slow and methodical accounts then they'll be pleasantly surprised by how invigorating the whole story is. (Also for those who saw Oppenheimer and are wondering if this is as entertaining: it's better!) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation

nightywing_44's review against another edition

3.75

emotional informative reflective slow-paced

jdwek's review against another edition

5.0

informative reflective fast-paced

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Reads like a thriller. Supremely engaging and well researched.

nolasia's review against another edition

2.0

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I'm at 29% and can't take the slog anymore. I want to learn more about this man but I don't need the biography stats of every person he ever met and their potential communist background and history. This book could have used a lot more editing. What I take wanted was more on the moral struggle of engineering a weapon of mass destruction.

ktjazzy's review against another edition

4.25

informative reflective slow-paced

fadum35's review against another edition

4.0

emotional informative slow-paced

thefunhouse's review against another edition

5.0

dark informative sad slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Cursing