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)

Excellent Portrayal of a Complicated Man

The details at times were a bit tedious but important in the documentation of the life of this remarkable and complex human being.

Highly interesting

A terrific and interesting book about an enigmatic person, a deep topic, and a troubling and trying time in world history. The audio at times was annoying where it would go louder and quieter, but other than that the recording and narrator was good

A Complex and Kindred Spirit

I see that many reviewers say this book was too long, but although I felt the narrative dragged a bit in places, I was quite interested in all the details. I feel a strong connection with Oppenheimer, and although I’m not a genius, his far ranging interests and paradoxical naïveté about human interactions really resonate with me.

I do have a slight, actual, connection with him as well. I grew up in Berkeley in the 50s and 60s, and my parents and their friends did know people similar to his group of friends in the 1930s. My mother was the education director of the Unitarian church in Berkeley from 1953 - the mid sixties. One day someone told me my mother wanted to see me in one of the school rooms. I went and found her with a tall, thin man with grey hair and a tall, thin girl a little older than myself. It was Oppenheimer and his daughter. My mother wanted me to show her around the church, but she didn’t take to me and wanted to stay with her father.

When the film came out, I learned more about them and started to wish I had made a better connection and had gotten to know them. I was taken with his interest in poetry and philosophy, particularly Eastern philosophy and the Bhagavad Gita, both lifelong interests for me. As I grew into adulthood during the 60s and 70s, those topics as well as antiwar sentiment and liberal politics took up much of my life.

I guess I’m a belated Oppenheimer groupie. I think I would have loved a conversation with this complex, morally nuanced, and sensitive individual at any point in my life. My one opportunity just came a little too soon. That tragic twist of life, so deeply lived and well well shown here by the subject of this book, is sad and beautiful.

Astounding amount of research and proven facts.

Author made this man likable and saw him as a victim even with all his faults. An enormous amount of history in one man’s life span. Very readable for someone without a background in physics or politics. I learned a great deal and am recommending this book to everyone.

Liked the movie, Loved this book!

After watching the movie, I needed more, and I got it here. So much more detail and I have a much better understanding of the man, the times, the people involved and the aftermath. So fascinating- all of it! The physics, the personalities, the war, the era- I thank Kai Bird for giving us this most wonderful book.
JSelway

Amazing Detail and Insight into a Great American

One of my favorite narrators, especially for historical content. Book is long, but worth it.

Good book, strangely read

I thought the overall story with very good. The author relied heavily on primary source documentation without being overbearing.

Unfortunately the reader tried using different voices when somebody was being quoted and the overall audiobook was poorly edited. It's detracts a little bit from the book but overall I would recommend it.

that was great!

I recommend this book to anyone. I started it for a school project but then not taken away finishing it over the weekend

One of my best Audible books

Would you listen to American Prometheus again? Why?

Yes - great story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Oppenheimer - probably the most interesting and complex character I've met.

What about Jeff Cummings’s performance did you like?

Good pace and consistent voice quality.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No -too long.

Any additional comments?

This is long listen. But well worth it. Was there ever a more interesting man than J. R. Oppenheimer? Talk about living life to the fullest. Truly great books can be enjoyed at many levels and this book is no exception. And the big ideas in the great books are timeless. As I listened to this story - I couldn't help reflecting on todays scientists fighting with their government over the environment and more recently, national security, surveillance and personal privacy. Many years after his death - Oppenheimer appears to have been vindicated on nuclear defense strategy. This book left me wondering - can we and our government learn to tolerate a genius like Oppenheimer when his political thought and lifestyle is not mainstream? A great listen.

A must read...Physics and Politics

What did you love best about American Prometheus?

Information about the "necessity" of dropping the bomb that no history book ever explained.

What other book might you compare American Prometheus to and why?

Lectures of Richard Fyenman

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

There were multiple audio problems" A few times it sounded like the same sentence was repeated. Other times the volumne and/or tone of the speaker changed so dramatically as to really detract from the content. The analogy would be a written book where the fonts suddenly change style, size, underlining, etc. to the point it is difficult to read,

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Nothing extreme, but constantly hearing new information, insightful information, emotional information...

Any additional comments?

When an audio book is devided into multiple files why don't the titles show 1/4, 2/4 or something like that. If you select the wrong file it goes to the top of the display. Now you have three more files that identical titles.