A review by krayfish1
Big Science: Ernest Lawrence and the Invention that Launched the Military-Industrial Complex by Michael A. Hiltzik

4.0

Interesting local history. Interesting that he kept his family and work life so separate. Did not previously know what methods Oak Ridge used or details about plutonium vs. uranium bombs. Mix of science and politics started with atom bomb. Could draw parallels between nuclear bomb & climate change as politicized science questions. Did not know Oppenheimer was a pro-union lefty & got caught in McCarthy-ism, or that Lawrence was conservative leaning. Not sure if I would have wanted to work in the Rad Lab of 1940's-50's. Cult of personality not described as being that great. Recognized a lot of names from Berkeley, MIT, LBNL.