American Prometheus

The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

By: Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin

Narrated by: Jeff Cummings

Length: 26 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

THE INSPIRATION FOR THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE OPPENHEIMER

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.

When he proposed international controls over atomic materials, opposed the development of the hydrogen bomb, and criticized plans for a nuclear war, his ideas were anathema to powerful advocates of a massive nuclear buildup during the anti-Communist hysteria of the early 1950s. They declared that Oppenheimer could not be trusted with America’s nuclear secrets.

In this magisterial biography twenty-five years in the making, which won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for biography, the authors capture Oppenheimer’s life and times, from his early career to his central role in the Cold War.

©2005 Kai Bird; 2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"The definitive biography...Oppenheimer's life doesn't influence us. It haunts us." ( Newsweek)

"[A] profoundly fascinating, richly complex, and ineffably sad American life.... Bird and Sherwin are without peer...in capturing the humanity of the man." ( Booklist)

"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." ( New York Times)

Fantastic Biography

Wonderful portrait of one of America’s most complicated people. The audio recording, however, has a few errors, and the quality occasionally changes without notice.

Interesting story, lots of details

What did you love best about American Prometheus?

I liked the lot of details in the most interesting parts. I did not like the lots of details in the less interesting parts.the story remained interesting even after the building of the atomic bomb. The whole post WW2 development of the nuclear bomb industry is laid clear. On one side Oppenheimer was a genius, but was very naive

Any additional comments?

Narrators voice had an 'intellectual' tone. Good match for the subject matter, but a bit dry for a loooooong story

Interesting historical account

At age 40 I knew nothing about the man - very informative and educational - good job.

Fantastic book...

Would you listen to American Prometheus again? Why?

Yes, it's a fascinating story. I'm a sucker for anything atomic bomb related, but Oppenheimer's story is particularly tragic. The guy who brought everyone together, ran the atomic bomb project gets his security clearance revoked less than a decade later in a humiliating show trial.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I would have liked to have heard more about Frank Oppenheimer.

What aspect of Jeff Cummings’s performance would you have changed?

It's not the PERFORMANCE that lacks, it's the editing. Especially names, they're edited with all the style and grace of an outgoing voicemail message. Something something something..........Victor Weisskopf.........yadda yadda yadda. The edits aren't even EQed the same.

Very Thorogh -

Indeed an editor would have helped but it is still worth the read. While the first 1/3 is far too detailed with unimportant data, the last 2/3 is detailed with interesting although not critical data.

The performance is at best a "C", but the quality of the recording is very poor; I'd say a D-. When they splice in corrections both the volume and tone change dramatically, which in some .parts is very distracting.

Overall - if you like history it is worth the read.

Well developed and comprehensive biography

The book itself was good. A portrait of wartime and mid-century America through the lens of Oppenheimer's experience. The narration was good overall, though inconsistent in recording and mastering.

I cried

Amazingly good book and good read. This is my second best book after Steve Jobs

A detailed account of a man worth knowing about, in a somewhat flawed medium.

Parts are re-recorded and stitched together with a bit of a jarring transition. Some name pronunciations are spoken either confusingly or inconsistently. Aside from that, it is an important story about one of the greatest scientists to ever live. Despite this audiobook’s flaws, this is a worthwhile listen.

Informative

It’s very good and interesting. Long but very detailed both on his personal life and scientific.

Great for long drives!

Excellent story, can get a bit long in the middle but worth the time. Twenty nine hours!