71 pages • 2 hours read
Kai Bird, Martin J. SherwinAmerican Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2005A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin is a biography detailing the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who led the US atomic bomb program during World War II. From his directorship at Los Alamos to the moral dilemmas following the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the book chronicles his later efforts against nuclear proliferation and the tragic fallout of his 1954 security clearance hearing, amidst Cold War anti-Communist hysteria. Human experiences of mental health crises and distress are depicted in this work.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin meticulously details J. Robert Oppenheimer's life, capturing his brilliance and controversies. Critics laud its thorough research and engaging prose, though some find the depth occasionally overwhelming. Overall, it’s a compelling, nuanced biography that offers profound insights into Oppenheimer and his era.
Who Should Read American Prometheus?
Readers who are fascinated by the intertwining of science, politics, and ethics would enjoy American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. Comparable to Walter Isaacson’s Einstein and Richard Rhodes’s The Making of the Atomic Bomb, this biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer appeals to those captivated by historical figures who shaped pivotal moments in modern history.