American Prometheus (Pulitzer Prize Winner)
By Kai Bird & Martin J. Sherwin
- Release Date: 2005-04-05
- Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Description
THE INSPIRATION FOR THE ACADEMY AWARD®-WINNING MAJOR MOTION PICTURE OPPENHEIMER • "A riveting account of one of history’s most essential and paradoxical figures.”—Christopher Nolan
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • The definitive biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the iconic figures of the twentieth century, a brilliant physicist who led the effort to build the atomic bomb for his country in a time of war, and who later found himself confronting the moral consequences of scientific progress.
A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Century
In this magisterial, acclaimed biography twenty-five years in the making, Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin capture Oppenheimer’s life and times, from his early career to his central role in the Cold War. This is biography and history at its finest, riveting and deeply informative.
“A masterful account of Oppenheimer’s rise and fall, set in the context of the turbulent decades of America’s own transformation. It is a tour de force.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review
“A work of voluminous scholarship and lucid insight, unifying its multifaceted portrait with a keen grasp of Oppenheimer’s essential nature.... It succeeds in deeply fathoming his most damaging, self-contradictory behavior.” —The New York Times
Reviews
Great book
5By ManwhowritesreviewsLoved it. Well writtenCouldn’t finish
1By Melalo1126Very dry. If you like historical reads and facts, read this. I was hoping it was more of a storyOutstanding!
5By H/villeCaptivatingManipulative
1By Penguin2222There is tons and tons of reliable data in this book, but some of it is without context. It’s not going into enough detail as to why people like Strauss were fearful of communism such as the Holodomor where millions were purposefully starved to death by the communists in Ukraine, the systematic murder of Stalin’s own people, Mao murdering his 40 million in China at the same time as Oppenheimer’s trial, etc. Strauss, McCarthy, and others were right to fear communism. However, were they right in revoking Oppenheimer’s security clearance? That can be debated and there is nothing wrong with a healthy debate so long as the reader sees both sides because this is a history lesson.Sad Story
3By Biker13Kai Bird reveals himself as a bit of a partisan hack with his pointed attempts to malign one political party. It undermines his objectivity and seems petty when such a broad cast of characters with varied backgrounds from both parties are responsible for a rather long and tragic story that spans administrations.Tops!
5By LexpaxzExcellent story on Oppenheimer and the A-Bomb. Highly recommended.Better than the movie
5By Oxford OkieAfter watching the 2023 movie Oppenheimer I had to read American Prometheus. It is in my opinion one of the best biographies I’ve ever read. It is so much more that the life and times of J. Robert Oppenheimer. His story told within the context of World War Two, the atomic bomb, the Cold War, and the sad events of McCarthyism provides a rich history of the times that vaulted America into the roll of world leader with all the good and bad that that entails. Richly written this book also bares extraordinary insight into our current political discourse. Genuinely showing how powerful and destructive, petty, thin skinned political operatives can control false narratives to destroy reputations. A must read for anyone who understands that history, well told, can show a clear path to understanding current events.Deja Vu Persecution
5By Samnite100Excellent summary... Now to watch the movie!A hero vindicated.
5By Starkraving7Outstanding. Detailed and riveting.Buy this book
5By cadoc1951Hard to put it down. Fascinating account despite my having read several other books re A bomb development.Masterpiece
5By bet6436535Impressive biography - highly recommendedA technical criticism
4By Bob McKluskeyLot of audio pickups in this recording. However, the mixer or recordist clearly did not use the same microphone so the drop ins did not match. No attempt was made to EQ the pickups or level the new adds. As a result, it made listening very choppy and annoying. Audio production is quite simple. Its odd that no one bothered to make the pickups match the original recording session.Science!
5By splitz17A great look into the trials and tribulations of intellectualism in a time and era where such intelligence could be dangerous.Not so much about the actual bombs…
2By 8624102ndstIf your looking for a balanced story that describes how the Manhattan Project tested the first bomb a Trinity and built the bombs that were dropped on Japan this book will disappoint.Detailed and enthralling
5By rsbMDThis is a full telling of his life, the trials and tribulations told in a captivating manner. I’ve now earned the right to watch the movie!I don’t know about the title.
5By jgerleinEspectacular. The only part I did not like about this biography is the fact that I already knew how the story ends. I felt reading a fascinating novel. Learned different perspectives from a story everybody thinks they know, but they don’t. Read it!Tragedy and Triumph
5By Mother of SkunksThis is an even handed portrait of a deeply complicated man. Required reading for any American.
