A review by abicaro17
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

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, and Deportation