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1.63k reviews for:
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Martin J. Sherwin, Kai Bird
4.33 AVERAGE
1.63k reviews for:
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Martin J. Sherwin, Kai Bird
4.33 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
It is no surprise that this exceptional biography won the 2006 Pulitzer and that it inspired the blockbuster 2023 Oppenheimer movie. Clearly, the authors researched it extensively, but more importantly, their writing truly evoked the magnetism, quirkiness, and genius that was J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb. Its only criticism is its heftiness, but that's to be expected when detailing such an impactful person.
I have to assume that I would have found this quite a bit drier had I not watched Oppenheimer first, but having the movie as a primer made this very exciting to read. I can't tell if it's more well-written than the average biography, or Oppenheimer's life is just that much more intriguing than the average life, but either way I really enjoyed it all the way through. It obviously provides a lot more detail than the movie did and expands the timeline, but what's really amazing is how tame the movie portrayal was; it's usually the other way around. (Spoiler alert: Strauss was actually even more petty IRL and they haven't ruled out that Jean may have been murdered).
My biggest issue tbh is with the audiobook. Y'all need to go back and do some editing because there are too many random volume changes and at least one part that's re-read.
My biggest issue tbh is with the audiobook. Y'all need to go back and do some editing because there are too many random volume changes and at least one part that's re-read.
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Two things really stood out reading this, firstly the description of seeing an atomic bomb for the first time, the colours it produced, turning darkness into light and the feeling of heat on your face over 20 miles away from the explosion whilst scientists are taking bets whether the atmosphere would ignite. Secondly, using the bomb in Hiroshima when the US knew Japan wanted to surrender and they then do the same at Nagasaki just for a "show of force".
I'm still looking forward to the film.
I'm still looking forward to the film.
4.5 stars. Oppenheimer was certainly a complicated man. And he certainly took a lot of unfair abuse from certain politicians who disliked him. A well told story of triumph and tragedy.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
This was a great piece of non-fiction. I think it’s a very approachable story, despite its length.
I was rarely bored and even though I was very familiar with the subject matter - it was told in an interesting and digestible kind of way.
I was rarely bored and even though I was very familiar with the subject matter - it was told in an interesting and digestible kind of way.