Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
American Prometheus
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer | Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin
J. Robert Oppenheimer is 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. In this magisterial, acclaimed biography twenty-five years in the making, Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin capture Oppenheimers 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. From the Trade Paperback edition.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
Brooke_H
post image
Pickpick

A cradle-to-grave bio of J Robert Oppenheimer. It was fine, I guess.

HAHAHA KIDDING. I'm literally obsessed with this book. I would like to offer a sincere thank-you to Covid, who allowed me the time to sit down and read like 90% of the thing over the course of just a couple of days. The word "engrossed" doesn't even begin to touch how I felt while reading. And also, yes, the book is better.

15 likes1 stack add
review
AvidReader25
post image
Pickpick

I finished this just in time for the Oscars. It‘s the basis of the best picture winner “Oppenheimer” & I loved seeing the way the book was adapted to become a film. This is a long in-depth biography, but he was a complicated man. It was also a perfect nonfiction read for New Mexico. The authors did an excellent job diving into the history of the making of the atomic bomb and Oppenheimer‘s role in the saga. I wouldn‘t read it again but it was good.

blurb
perfectsinner
post image

Two non fiction books back-to-back? Guess I'm in that kind of mood.
Anyway, I'm gonna start this tonight. I saw the film and thought it was great. I hope the book is good, I've seen some reviews saying it's a bit dry.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks My husband is reading this. We also saw the movie! 8mo
perfectsinner I loved the movie and I actually love physics. I don't understand it, but I've been obsessed with astrophysics, quantum mechanics, theoretical physics, etc. For several yrs now. I watch a lot of science YouTube, lol. I'm only 9% in, but so far not finding it to be a dry read at all 8mo
8 likes2 comments
review
JackOBotts
Bailedbailed

I really want to enjoy reading this, but it‘s too dry for my taste. So I‘m doing the grown up thing and walking away. (I did see Oppenheimer, so I guess I kinda know what‘s up…)

review
Addison_Reads
post image
Pickpick

I have to admit that I probably wouldn't have read this if I hadn't liked the movie so much. Oppenheimer was such a complex intriguing person that I just needed to learn more about him. The authors did an excellent job with this book and the research and details presented made this a truly fascinating read.

Highly recommend if this is a subject/person you're interested in learning more about.

Amiable My husband read this book last year before he even knew about the movie. He enjoyed it, too. 1y
48 likes1 comment
review
JoeMo
post image
Pickpick

This is an exhaustive exploration of Oppenheimer‘s life. This is truly one of the most impressive biographies that I‘ve ever read. To me it was engrossing to learn so much about the cultural and historical shift in America from when it was once acceptable and somewhat trendy to be a communist or someone with those political leanings to then face the Red Scare which gripped America and ruined the lives and careers of many.

#bookspinbingo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 1y
33 likes1 comment
review
fredthemoose
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I knew next to nothing about Oppenheimer until hearing the movie was at least partly based on this book and deciding to give it a go before heading to the theater. Well researched, interesting story of a complicated, brilliant man. Many things came easily to/for him, and then many others were difficult or unfairly taken. The audio quality was not great, and some topic transitions were unexpectedly quick, but a definite pick.

blurb
MallenNC
post image

What is there to do on a very hot day other than watch a three-hour movie? I wasn‘t sure my attention span would make it but the movie was so good. Especially the end scene. I didn‘t know much about Oppenheimer before this so I may have to read this book. Maybe I‘ll catch Barbie next week!

currentlyreadinginCO Can confirm that barbie was great! 1y
MallenNC @currentlyreadinginCO I really want to see it! A friend of mine wants to see it with me and she was out of town this weekend. I‘m trying to be patient. 1y
mom2bugnbee Barbie was AMAZING & much more emotional than I expected! Going to see Oppenheimer on Tuesday! 1y
See All 9 Comments
MallenNC @mom2bugnbee That‘s so good to hear. I am definitely seeing Barbie ASAP. Let me know what you think of Oppenheimer! It‘s a totally different experience I‘m sure. 1y
RosePressedPages I was laughing so hard during Barbie! Both movies are worth the hype 1y
Amiable My husband read this book last year and said it was very good. 1y
MallenNC @Amiable Oh good. I like nonfiction a lot so I will probably give it a try. 1y
Graciouswarriorprincess I saw Barbie on Saturday and am seeing this movie on Tuesday night. 1y
MallenNC @Graciouswarriorprincess It‘s long! But I made it through the whole movie. 1y
27 likes1 stack add9 comments
review
Ericalambbrown
post image
Pickpick

I read this when it originally came out 20-ish years ago, but I wanted to revisit it with the Christopher Nolan film coming out next month. It‘s a really good biography of Oppenheimer. It‘s also a good accounting of both the Manhattan Project and his troubles when McCarthyism gripped our country. It will really interesting to see how the film goes.

Bookboss Fabulous book! 1y
Ericalambbrown @Bookboss it really is! 1y
50 likes2 comments
quote
Ericalambbrown
post image

“In the first decade of the 20th century, science initiated a second American revolution.”

#FirstLineFridays. @ShyBookOwl

review
Hamlet
post image
Pickpick

I heard that C. Nolan‘s movie “Oppenheimer” was largely based on this book, so I had to read it first. It‘s a thorough biography. I had hoped for more on the science of the Manhattan Project, but I find I must seek out another book for that. Oppenheimer is a compelling personality and a fascinating polymath in addition to his genius for physics. I found the incessant talk of FBI & Army worry about communists wearying, as Oppie himself must have.

8 likes1 stack add
blurb
RowReads1
post image

Sad looking Albert Einstein. New preview dropped. Partly filmed on campus. https://youtu.be/uYPbbksJxIg

Bookwomble I love how in this picture Tom Conti looks just like Albert Einstein whilst simultaneously looking just like Tom Conti 😄 1y
36 likes1 comment
review
mrroysanchez
Pickpick

Oppenheimer is someone I had heard of but never learned much about. This was a mistake. He should be held up as the exemplar of science and philosophy. This biography details every facet of his existence, and its argument for how Oppie was wronged by the gov‘t reminds its readers that intellectualism and academia is always at risk.

2 likes1 stack add
review
MGrace15
post image
Pickpick

This Pulitzer prize winning (B) book about J. Robert Oppenheimer talks about him as well as his work on creating the bombs that were used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was really cool to read about and almost takes you into the past. This biography would be ideal for IR as the students can use it for book reports or science projects. UDL 6.3 Facilitate meaningful information and resources.
#LAE3414SP19

MGrace15 EL Strategy 20 List the most important words or phrases you plan to use in a presentation on a transparency or on the chalkboard. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/21/books/the-physics-philosophy-and-literally-di... takes you to an article posted on the book from NY Times. 6y
DrSpalding Discipline specific vocabulary is so important. So cool that you included a New York Times article as a resource. Good for you. 6y
CatMS Wonderful book on Oppenheimer. Looking forward to the movie with Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer. 1y
4 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
Pedrocamacho
post image
Pickpick

This book is a very thorough recapitulation of the life Robert Oppenheimer. It reads like a whirlwind. The almost infinite shades of grey that constituted Oppenheimer‘s life make for compelling reading. I read “The Making of the Atomic Bomb” last year and “American Prometheus” is a great companion read.

review
AEBowenPhD
post image
Pickpick

Rise and #resist! Before the day gets away from you, call or write your reps about the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, and IMLS. I wrote about just a few of the programs I'll miss if these agencies go away. http://bookriot.com/2017/03/18/what-book-lovers-lose-if-we-lose-the-nea-and-neh/

blurb
Skyler
post image

After being apart for a couple of days because of an overnight field trip this weekend, Monty and I are reunited and ready for a cozy Sunday. #teacherlife #teachersoflitsy

slhbooks I bet your puppy is happy to have you home💙💙💙 8y
16 likes1 comment
blurb
Skyler
post image

View from where I do a lot of reading, my desk at home. #whereiread #riotgrams

blurb
Skyler
post image

Sometimes when I look at my books I think about when I was a kid and how when I'd dream of my adult life, I'd always imagine a house full of books. I think my kid self would be pleased with how things have turned out. #shelfie #riotgrams

Mdargusch Yes! You have a great collection. 📚📚📚 8y
Skyler @Mdargusch Thanks! 😀 8y
18 likes2 comments
blurb
Skyler
post image

So enjoying this right now even though I've had hardly any time to read this week due to work/life craziness.
Fun Oppie fact: One time in grad school he gave his professor a poisoned apple! The prof luckily didn't eat it, but if it weren't for his father's efforts to smooth things over with the school, Oppenheimer would have been booted from the university, which might have damaged, possibly even finished, his academic career. ☠🍎☠🍎

review
tkingsanchez
Pickpick

Bird's coverage of Oppenheimer is sweeping and epic. A tragic hero and his rise and fall to greatness. One of my all-time favorite books.

3 likes1 stack add