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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
This book was an incredible portrait of a very layered man. I left it feeling sad that the world let him down despite him believing in it until the end. What a legacy he has left.
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Interesting story, it’s basically a biography of Oppenheimer. He was an American Jew who became a physicist and organised the team that built the atomic bomb. He was then destroyed by McCarthy, who seems like a complete evil and yet also stupid man. I do like that the legacy of the people who destroyed Oppie for petty reasons is completely dragged through the mud. That’s more than they deserve. It’s only sad that the destruction didn’t happen whilst they were still alive. It was a very detailed description of the times and the people and the physics.
I can know see why experts are not really involved in policy decisions anymore, which is sad and we are probably worse off because of it. But what expert would want to help following what they did to Oppie.
I can know see why experts are not really involved in policy decisions anymore, which is sad and we are probably worse off because of it. But what expert would want to help following what they did to Oppie.
Last year, I got a lot of flack (a lot of hate, you might say!) from certain people who thought that I had "inflated" my goodreads total with "manga" and "comics" which were "not books" and "ew". So, in a stunning rebuke to the haters, I have returned in 2024 with this behemoth of a book (one that has taken me so long to read, that I will likely be using Chainsaw Man to make up the deficit #nohate).
Anyways, this score is not reflective of the quality of American Prometheus, which as superlative and comprehensive a history as you could possibly hope for. The authors have done their homework and then some, marshalling years of interviews and mountains of transcripts to present what is likely to remain the definitive document on J. Robert Oppenheimer. As a piece of work to enter into the records, it is unmatched.
As an actual reading experience, I'm more mixed. The book drowns the reader in detail from the get-go, and I have to confess that were it not for my two watches of Christopher Nolan's (excellent) biopic, I would have struggled to gain a footing. In fact, the most backhanded compliment I can pay American Prometheus is that is gave me a greater appreciation for Nolan's film: how it slices through the dirge to find its narrative, and how Jennifer Lame's dizzying editing lends precision and drama to the morass of extralegal affairs that Oppenheimer became embroiled in.
But then, I am sure that the inverse will also hold true, and that American Prometheus will only serve to enhance any further viewings of Oppenheimer (2023). That is the benefit of a book that leaves no stone unturned, even if the front cover's claim that it "Reads like a thriller," may be over-egging things somewhat. Oppenheimer's life certainly was the stuff of paranoid nightmares - whether it reads like one is not necessarily a given.
Anyways, this score is not reflective of the quality of American Prometheus, which as superlative and comprehensive a history as you could possibly hope for. The authors have done their homework and then some, marshalling years of interviews and mountains of transcripts to present what is likely to remain the definitive document on J. Robert Oppenheimer. As a piece of work to enter into the records, it is unmatched.
As an actual reading experience, I'm more mixed. The book drowns the reader in detail from the get-go, and I have to confess that were it not for my two watches of Christopher Nolan's (excellent) biopic, I would have struggled to gain a footing. In fact, the most backhanded compliment I can pay American Prometheus is that is gave me a greater appreciation for Nolan's film: how it slices through the dirge to find its narrative, and how Jennifer Lame's dizzying editing lends precision and drama to the morass of extralegal affairs that Oppenheimer became embroiled in.
But then, I am sure that the inverse will also hold true, and that American Prometheus will only serve to enhance any further viewings of Oppenheimer (2023). That is the benefit of a book that leaves no stone unturned, even if the front cover's claim that it "Reads like a thriller," may be over-egging things somewhat. Oppenheimer's life certainly was the stuff of paranoid nightmares - whether it reads like one is not necessarily a given.
While a good biography of the person, several major gaps exist in Oppenheimer's timeline. Just as well, the authors have an agenda - perhaps justified - with this biography.
Interesting and engaging overall, though.
Interesting and engaging overall, though.
informative
slow-paced
adventurous
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Scientists accustomed to working with limited resources and virtually no deadlines now had to adjust to a world of virtually unlimited resources and exacting deadlines.
This was a fascinating listen! I learned so much, unfortunately and most notably, that the atomic bomb wasn’t even needed to end the war. I did not love the organization and structure of this and it felt like it dragged a bit. However, it’s very clear that this biography was well researched and nuanced, though perhaps a little too friendly to Opie.
This was a fascinating listen! I learned so much, unfortunately and most notably, that the atomic bomb wasn’t even needed to end the war. I did not love the organization and structure of this and it felt like it dragged a bit. However, it’s very clear that this biography was well researched and nuanced, though perhaps a little too friendly to Opie.
“They paid more to tap my phone than they paid me to run the Los Alamos Project.”
How should a man be judged, by his associations or by his actions? Can criticism of a government’s policies be equated with disloyalty to country? Can democracy survive in an atmosphere that demands the sacrifice of personal relationships to state policy? Is national security well served by applying narrow tests of political conformity to government employees?
Depressed, rejected, hailed, accused, and most of all misunderstood. "Leonardos and Oppenheimers are scarce,” Paul Horgan wrote in 1988, "but their wonderful love and projection of understanding as both private connoisseurs and historical achievers offer us at least an ideal to consider and measure by."
I wanted to read and study this period in American history and better understand the life of Oppenheimer before I walked in to experience Nolan’s film. I’m grateful I did as I feel that I will better keep pace with the individuals involved and continue to absorb the scale to which this time in history changed everything.
This was a most impressive biography — so engaging because of its depth in research and commentary. It stands next to Isaacson’s Leonardo Da Vinci in my top tier biographies that I have ever read.
How should a man be judged, by his associations or by his actions? Can criticism of a government’s policies be equated with disloyalty to country? Can democracy survive in an atmosphere that demands the sacrifice of personal relationships to state policy? Is national security well served by applying narrow tests of political conformity to government employees?
Depressed, rejected, hailed, accused, and most of all misunderstood. "Leonardos and Oppenheimers are scarce,” Paul Horgan wrote in 1988, "but their wonderful love and projection of understanding as both private connoisseurs and historical achievers offer us at least an ideal to consider and measure by."
I wanted to read and study this period in American history and better understand the life of Oppenheimer before I walked in to experience Nolan’s film. I’m grateful I did as I feel that I will better keep pace with the individuals involved and continue to absorb the scale to which this time in history changed everything.
This was a most impressive biography — so engaging because of its depth in research and commentary. It stands next to Isaacson’s Leonardo Da Vinci in my top tier biographies that I have ever read.
I picked this up in anticipation of the upcoming (at the time of writing) Nolan movie. 722 pages, 40 chapters. First 14 chapters were slow burners. Chp14-24 is where the whole Manhattan Project unfolds and gets really interesting.
Chp25 onwards is everything that happens after Hiroshima till his passing.
It's a really good book. Of course the first 14 chapters were really slow especially if you pick this up expecting it to be completely about the Manhattan Project but given this is a biography, it had to cover the origins of the man who becomes the Father of the Atomic Bomb. Having said that it's great read. It's worthwhile. And I'd definitely recommend it.
As I kept reading, I occasionally glanced at the cast of the Nolan movie on this legend, and as the characters got introduced, it made me realise that Nolan has made a wonderful selection. Thoroughly looking forward to the movie now.
Chp25 onwards is everything that happens after Hiroshima till his passing.
It's a really good book. Of course the first 14 chapters were really slow especially if you pick this up expecting it to be completely about the Manhattan Project but given this is a biography, it had to cover the origins of the man who becomes the Father of the Atomic Bomb. Having said that it's great read. It's worthwhile. And I'd definitely recommend it.
As I kept reading, I occasionally glanced at the cast of the Nolan movie on this legend, and as the characters got introduced, it made me realise that Nolan has made a wonderful selection. Thoroughly looking forward to the movie now.