American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer is a biography of the renowned physicist and wartime leader of the Manhattan Project, J. Robert Oppenheimer. It was written by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin and was published in 2005.
The book is divided into three parts, each focusing on a different period of Oppenheimer's life. The first part covers his early life, including his childhood, education, and the beginning of his career as a physicist.
Oppenheimer was born into a well-to-do family in New York City in 1904. He was a gifted student and attended Harvard University, where he studied physics and developed an interest in the new field of quantum mechanics. After earning his doctorate, he spent several years working in Europe with some of the most prominent physicists of the time, including Niels Bohr and Wolfgang Pauli.
The book's second part covers Oppenheimer's involvement in the Manhattan Project during World War II. As the project director, Oppenheimer was responsible for bringing together a team of scientists and engineers to develop the first atomic bomb. Despite numerous setbacks and challenges, he worked tirelessly to ensure the project's success. The book provides a detailed account of the scientific and technical aspects of the project, as well as the political and ethical considerations that arose during its development.
The book's final part covers Oppenheimer's post-war life, including his work as a public intellectual and his involvement in the anti-nuclear movement. The authors also examine the government's decision to revoke Oppenheimer's security clearance in 1954, citing his alleged Communist sympathies. The revocation of his clearance was a major blow to Oppenheimer's reputation and career, and the book explores the political and personal factors that led to this decision.
American Prometheus ends with the authors' reflections on Oppenheimer's legacy and the impact of his work on the world. They note that Oppenheimer's contributions to the development of nuclear weapons ultimately led to the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union and the threat of nuclear annihilation that still exists today.
The book concludes with a poignant quote from Oppenheimer, who famously said, "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds," upon witnessing the first successful test of the atomic bomb. The authors reflect on the significance of this statement and its ongoing relevance to the modern world.
