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1.64k reviews for:
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Martin J. Sherwin, Kai Bird
4.33 AVERAGE
1.64k reviews for:
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Martin J. Sherwin, Kai Bird
4.33 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Outstanding. Bad biographies err in two directions. The first is hagiography which this book certainly does not risk. The second is critical deconstruction. This is a great biography because it provides enough information to admire him, question him, and debate his legacy.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I’m really anticipating Chris Nolan’s adaptation of this book.
Pretty interesting overall. I will admit I knew nothing about Oppenheimer going in (even his involvement with the Manhattan Project), this book is informative without getting bland. Would recommend to non-fiction fans, WWII Buffs, and communist sympathizers.
Pretty interesting overall. I will admit I knew nothing about Oppenheimer going in (even his involvement with the Manhattan Project), this book is informative without getting bland. Would recommend to non-fiction fans, WWII Buffs, and communist sympathizers.
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
informative
tense
Had to take a break after a personal loss. Hope to return to it - what I got through was excellent
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Definitely illuminated the more negative aspects of Oppenheimer's life that was left out of, or pictured differently for the pacing of, the movie. Really glad I listened to this.
Some Quotes I Liked:
"...[I] search my desk for letters and wish I were dead. Voila." (1:37:24)
"The reason why a bad philosophy leads to such hell is that it is what you think and want and treasure and foster in times of preparation that determine what you do in the pinch, and that it takes an error to father a sin." (3:39:14)
"He didn't say that the airstrikes shouldn't be carried on, but he did think there was something wrong with a country where no one questioned that." (12:49:18)
"That does not mean that I think it is a good idea. I believe that until you have looked the tiger in the eye, you are going to be in the worst of all dangers, which is that you will back into it." (20:02:26)
"By a single foolish and ignoble act... you have canceled the entire debt this country owes you." (24:24:24)
"It is satisfying to have had such clever and efficient pupils... but I wish they had shown less cleverness and more wisdom." (25:00:36)
Some Quotes I Liked:
"...[I] search my desk for letters and wish I were dead. Voila." (1:37:24)
"The reason why a bad philosophy leads to such hell is that it is what you think and want and treasure and foster in times of preparation that determine what you do in the pinch, and that it takes an error to father a sin." (3:39:14)
"He didn't say that the airstrikes shouldn't be carried on, but he did think there was something wrong with a country where no one questioned that." (12:49:18)
"That does not mean that I think it is a good idea. I believe that until you have looked the tiger in the eye, you are going to be in the worst of all dangers, which is that you will back into it." (20:02:26)
"By a single foolish and ignoble act... you have canceled the entire debt this country owes you." (24:24:24)
"It is satisfying to have had such clever and efficient pupils... but I wish they had shown less cleverness and more wisdom." (25:00:36)
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
informative
I saw the excellent movie and picked up the book, which despite being over 700 pages was a fast and often thrilling read. Insightful sections especially the pages leading up to the Hiroshima bombing, his outspokenness against the hydrogen bomb, and the US government's attempts to contain and humiliate him.