American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Martin J. Sherwin, Kai Bird

4.33 AVERAGE

bug_not_a_feature's review against another edition

Way too boring! It focused ad nauseam on whether or not he was a communist, and what others thought about it. The book could have been half as long.

isajsait's review against another edition

Well-written, and a fascinating example of biographers’ attachment to their subject. 

voltalapagina's review against another edition

4.0
challenging informative slow-paced

doop24's review against another edition

5.0
dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

thn001's review against another edition

5.0
emotional informative reflective medium-paced

moore2030's review against another edition

4.5
informative medium-paced

phthadani's review against another edition

4.0
informative tense medium-paced

mujerdee's review against another edition

4.0
I’m blown away by the life that this fellow had, warts and all, and the telling for the most part was pretty stellar. However, it loses a star from me for eliding over how RO gets past his depression and introversion between his graduate studies and post doc. I wouldn’t have guessed what a bunch of drama queens worked on the Alamogordo gadget. I also shouldn’t have been surprised at how the Military Industrial Complex (a term coined by Dwight Eisenhower, according to the author) wrenched the resultant technology from the pure science guys, many who were far more progressive and understood not only the human cost, but predicted the political ramifications of secrecy than I would have expected. Einstein is not only a physics genius but has an incredibly high emotional IQ. Edward Teller and Harry Truman are bloodthirsty, testosterone addled assholes. RO and his family meet a sad end, to the surprise of exactly no one. I could have used a bit more info about Kitty…Mrs RO, who is both fascinating and infuriating in only the way a brilliant but frustrated, alcohol abusing mid century woman can be. A good listen.

ikassa's review against another edition

5.0
I DID IT!!!!!!!! THIS WAS SO AWESOME!!!!! Just an insane accomplishment by the authors. Incredible research and storytelling abilities are obvious on every single page. The best biography by far I’ve ever read and possibly the greatest work of nonfiction I’ve ever read.

emturner21's review against another edition

5.0
holy. mother of God. *quickly googles “porkpie hats near me”