American Prometheus

The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

By: Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin

Narrated by: Jeff Cummings

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)

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.

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.

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

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.

Well told story, poor technical quality

Would you consider the audio edition of American Prometheus to be better than the print version?

Don't know

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Narration itself was fine, but the sound quality of the recordings was uneven.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was angered by the political railroading of am entire group of scientists by small minded politicians.

great book

i really enjoyed reading this book because of its historical accuracy. at least the scientific community stood behind him

A very interesting segment of American history.

It sad that this man had endure so much pressure in his professional and personal life.

Fascinating History

This is such an interesting story, so American in an international way. Oppenheimer was a genius, obviously, but he had a fatal flaw. The book appears to be thorough and well researched, a story well told. My only complaint is that it is obvious where the recording begins and ends. Some parts are faster or louder or seem to have a different background. That was annoying.

Very eye-opening

a bit slow to start but then excellent. At times a few more details than I would like but that can't be helped. The narrator kept drifting in and out, as if he was rocking back and forth towards the microphone.

At the sad, beguiling heart of modernity

This is an exhaustive and incredible piece of work, long, essential and evocative. Its subject is deeply fascinating, which is an obvious and facile thing to say, but at the same time the authors are invested in the document of JRO's life and times more than subjective scrutiny or deeper analysis of the man himself.

Oppie lived through a time that continues to burn so brightly in history and memory, that it can render the present quite pale, as if the events and the people who made them are instead from some future. But instead their narratives and experiences have been and gone and are reflected upon here, shedding light on the human condition. J Robert Oppenheimer's story endures as one of the more remarkable of these.