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American Prometheus : The Inspiration for the Major Motion Picture OPPENHEIMER by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin (2006, Trade Paperback)
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About this product
Product Identifiers
PublisherKnopf Doubleday Publishing Group
ISBN-100375726268
ISBN-139780375726262
eBay Product ID (ePID)48423269
Product Key Features
Book TitleAmerican Prometheus : the Inspiration for the Major Motion Picture Oppenheimer
Number of Pages784 Pages
LanguageEnglish
Publication Year2006
TopicMilitary / Nuclear Warfare, United States / 20th Century, Modern / 20th Century, History, Historical, Science & Technology
IllustratorYes
GenreScience, Biography & Autobiography, History
AuthorKai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin
FormatTrade Paperback
Dimensions
Item Height1.6 in
Item Weight21.2 Oz
Item Length8 in
Item Width5.2 in
Additional Product Features
Intended AudienceTrade
LCCN2006-274248
Reviews"The definitive biography. . . . Oppenheimer's life doesn't influence us. It haunts us." -- Newsweek "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 "There have been numerous books about Oppenheimer but they can't touch this extraordinary book's impressive breadth and scope." -- The Miami Herald "The first biography to give full due to Oppenheimer's extraordinary complexity . . . Stands as an Everest among the mountains of books on the bomb project and Oppenheimer, and is an achievement not likely to be surpassed or equaled." -- The Boston Globe, "The definitive biography. . . . Oppenheimer's life doesn't influence us. It haunts us." Newsweek "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 "There have been numerous books about Oppenheimer but they can't touch this extraordinary book's impressive breadth and scope." The Miami Herald "The first biography to give full due to Oppenheimer's extraordinary complexity . . . Stands as an Everest among the mountains of books on the bomb project and Oppenheimer, and is an achievement not likely to be surpassed or equaled." The Boston Globe, "The definitive biography. . . . Oppenheimer's life doesn't influence us. It haunts us." Newsweek "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 "There have been numerous books about Oppenheimer but they can't touch this extraordinary book's impressive breadth and scope." The Miami Herald "The first biography to give full due to Oppenheimer's extraordinary complexity . . . Stands as an Everest among the mountains of books on the bomb project and Oppenheimer, and is an achievement not likely to be surpassed or equaled." The Boston Globe From the Trade Paperback edition., " The definitive biography. . . . Oppenheimer's life doesn't influence us. It haunts us." - "Newsweek" " 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" " There have been numerous books about Oppenheimer but they can't touch this extraordinary book's impressive breadth and scope." - "The Miami Herald" " The first biography to give full due to Oppenheimer's extraordinary complexity . . . Stands as an Everest among the mountains of books on the bomb project and Oppenheimer, and is an achievement not likely to be surpassed or equaled." - "The Boston Globe", -"Four decades after his death, J. Robert Oppenheimer has finally received the indepth, insightful, and judicious biography he deserves. This book is a fascinating portrait of a brilliant and tragic life, and of America in the nuclear age." -Eric Foner "This fascinating and thoughtful book brilliantly captures the political and scientific struggles of the early atomic age. Oppenheimer's triumphs and trials show how public policy, scientific genius and private character become interwoven. Bird and Sherwin have triumphed in turning their prodigious research about the father of the bomb into a poignant narrative." -Walter Isaacson "This superb biography provides fresh revelations and penetrating insights about the complex and fascinating personality of Robert Oppenheimer. American Prometheus, is meticulously researched, eloquently written and a joy to read. The account of his 1954 trial is spellbinding." -Robert S. Norris, author of Racing for the Bomb, General Leslie R. Groves the Manhattan Project's Indispensable Man "American Prometheus is the best--most thoroughly researched and most convincingly argued--study of J. Robert Oppenheimer to date. It is not only a great biography but also a cautionary tale about the excesses of government in a time of fear. No one interested in 20th-century America can afford to ignore this book." -Robert Dallek "The political drama is enhanced by the close attention to Oppenheimer's personal life,...restoring human complexity to a man who had been both elevated and demonized." Publishers Weekly, starred review "Compelling, definitive...Funneling more than 25 years of research into a captivating narrative, the authors bring needed perspective to Oppenheimer's radical activities in the 1930s, and they reprise the familiar story of the Manhattan Project thoroughly...Where Bird and Sherwin are without peer, however, is in capturing the humanity of the man behind the porkpie hat." Booklist, starred review "A swiftly moving narrative full of morality tales and juicy gossip. One of the best scientific biographies to appear in recent years." Kirkus, starred review "A masterful account-a tour de force, 25 years in the making-of Oppenheimer's rise and fall, set in the context of the turbulent decades of American's own transformation." -Gerald Holton, Front page, Los Angeles Times "Comprehensive, finely judged where it most matters, and sometimes revelatory . . . Bird and Sherwin capture all the drama and exhilaration and ironic glory (of Los Alamos) . . . and show how well he anticipated our own world, where nuclear materials and technologies percolate through shadowy networks." -James Gleick, Front page, Washington Post Book World "A nuanced and exacting portrait." -Elizabeth Svoboda, Front page San Francisco Chronicle "The definitive biography...Oppenheimer's life does not influence us. It haunts us." Malcom Jones, Newsweek "A work of voluminous scholarship and lucid insight, unifying its multifaceted portrait with a keen grasp of Oppenheimer's essential nature...charm and bravado on the surface, Dostoyevskian darkness underneath." Janet Maslin, The New York Times "In this stunning blockbuster, two accomplished Cold War historians have come together to tell Robert Oppenheimer's poignant and extraordinary story." Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affa
Dewey Edition23
Dewey Decimal530.092
SynopsisJ. 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 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., 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, "American Prometheus" is a rich evocation of America in mid-century and a compelling portrait of scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, a man shaped by its major events--the Depression, World War II, and the Cold War., THE INSPIRATION FOR THE ACADEMY AWARD(R)-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. 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
LC Classification NumberQC16.O62B57 2005
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Ratings and Reviews
Most relevant reviews
- Jun 28, 2022Top favorable review
More than I expected
I have to admit that I have not been able to sink my teeth into it yet. I have been clipping off chapters, and it flows well and it is interesting. Probably put it into suitcase or back pack to read when I have the time. Life gets in the way. So far more information than I expected.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Aug 30, 2023Top critical review
Difficult read, but a lot it you skip over and not lose the meaning.
A lot of technical terms that the average person, even a college educated person would have difficulty understanding. I haven't finished reading the entire book yet but in depth into his personality.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- May 16, 2025
The item is in great shape! Couldn't be ...
The item is in great shape! Couldn't be happier with my purchase.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Mar 28, 2024
Relevant Good Book
Good book that held my attention. A reminder in detail how we have to hold dear our civil liberties.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Aug 10, 2023
The Father Of The Atomic Bomb
I saw the movie a couple of weeks ago and could not wait to start reading the book. I’ve been told that the book is excellent.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Aug 07, 2023
See the movie, now read the book!
You saw the movie, now read the book it is as based on. Great read. Compelling and hard to put down.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Jul 16, 2019
Great Biography
The biography is an excellent portrait of one of the most important figures in the history of physics. Oppenheimer’s triumphs and failures are brilliantly illuminatedVerified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Jul 24, 2024
remarkably detailed and well written
remarkably detailed and well written. so much more than just the biography of oppenheimer but also a history of his time.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Feb 04, 2020
J. Robert Oppenheimer
Gives good insight on his upbringing and why he felt the way he did after the atomic bombs were dropped.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Aug 12, 2023
Great Biography of Oppenheimer
A thrilling biography of j. Robert Oppenheimer A terrific book for History buffs!Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
