Reviews tagging 'War'

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

22 reviews

bookish1313's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

Just an amazing read well written loved it.
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camhill803's review

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challenging informative reflective tense slow-paced

4.0

This is a wonderful book for someone who enjoys a very thorough retelling of someone’s life and history. I enjoyed it although this is not my typical read. However it was hard for me to fully comprehend certain situations and characters brought up because of how dense they are in the account. I think I’d have liked it more if I was able to pull up who or what they were discussing while listening to it. 
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brennach's review against another edition

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challenging informative slow-paced

3.5

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ammmiiiii's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

An account of the meteoric rise and subsequent fall from grace of the brilliant scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer. The author speaks to many people who knew him and uses a wide range of sources. 

My only criticism of this book would be that parts were heavily political (although I understand some explanation of politics is necessarily this was rather over the top) and that the book skims over the relevant physics which, if explained, would have given the reader a better grounding in the science of the atomic bomb and hence a fuller admiration for what was, and is, an incredible feat of science. 
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bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

5.0

A great read. captured some insights into a consequential mind. i found the context around science and the red scare. i especially found the end parts of Oppenheimer’s life interesting, since the Nolan movie did not cover them. a comprehensive story. 
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waedawson's review against another edition

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emotional informative slow-paced

5.0

Very informative and fascinating book about one of the most complicated people of the 20th Century. Reads almost like a thriller and is a great companion to the movie.
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tzana's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny informative sad tense fast-paced

4.75

For a 800 page brick, I certainly didn't expect it to be so fast paced.

Also, seriously, who let this man get outside of his house, I was expecting war crimes, not tomfoolery and clowning beyond human comprehension 
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billievee's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

If you thought the Oppenheimer movie was too short, this is the book for you!

...That sounds sarcastic, but I kinda mean it. I went into last year's Oppenheimer knowing almost nothing about the famous scientist, and it breezed through so much history in its 3 hour runtime that I found it hard to follow. This book, on the other hand, is extremely detailed about every aspect of Oppenheimer's life, and by the end it feels like he was someone who you knew well: a complex genius with some very human flaws. It's a long read, but worthwhile.
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issyd23's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

Worth the effort! 4🤠 

“Modern Prometheans have raided Mount Olympus again & have brought back for man the very thunderbolts of Zeus.” Scientific Monthly

Imagine having one of the greatest minds of the 20th century & the first 4 chapters of your biography is about how much of a loser you were at school/uni, how little you had sex & how you had 0 friends & low key tried to kill yourself & your professor.

Thankfully Oppie’s neuroses ‘subsided during middle age’ & he went on to have many affairs, friends & lead the Manhattan project & other groundbreaking discoveries. 

Jokes aside this biography is incredible: the best I’ve read & well worth the slog if you’re a fan of the film! 

It was so great reading the backstories of Jean Tatlock, Kitty, Isi Rabi & other fascinating people (I now finally understand what happened with Haakon Chevalier).

My eBook was so filled with highlights it started lagging. 

Bird & Sherwin’s attention to detail & research is considerable. Take a bow! 
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hannahgingerich's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

This book is huge but it is unlike any other biography I have ever read.  Even though it’s large the book does not read like a dense textbook.  It has a story and it flows.  This book is not just straight facts about Oppenheimers life, at time it also feels like it has an undertone of philosophical understandings.  The idea that Oppenheimer was naieve enough to believe that he creates something that is so destructive and that it might not be used, or change warfare in general.  Then to watch him slowly become disillusioned with the politics and government regarding the issues.  It’s a remarkable book. 
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