• 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
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (4,348 ratings)

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American Prometheus  By  cover art

American Prometheus

By: Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin
Narrated by: Jeff Cummings
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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)
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What listeners say about American Prometheus

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Magisterial biography

Where does American Prometheus rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A great book; excellent personal portrait, long on legal, shorter than hoped on science; fleshes out a complex, complicated man and his times. One the best biographies I've read.

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Prolific

What an unbiased record of a life which is both indeed a triumph and a tragedy! The book gives an impeccable view of the genius’s life and I couldn’t help but picture every frame, mood and resentment by the people mentioned in the book.

A treasure.

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Oppenheimer

Never have I been more amazed by an individual and at the same time experience so much anger for how he was treated for his work.

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Extraordinary Renascence Man

Great narration of a detailed account of an American historical figure. Brilliantly researched and magnificently portrayed Oppenheimer as a man for all seasons.

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Lots of Facts and Insights; Drags in the Middle

An excellent prep course for the coming Oppenheimer movie. Very long, but quite comprehensible at 1.5x speed

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An Outstanding Account of One of History’s Most Enigmatic Men

American Prometheus should be regarded as essential reading for those who plan on seeing Christopher Nolan’s latest masterpiece, Oppenheimer (2023). Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin provide a painstakingly comprehensive overview of the life and times of one of the most divisive and important figures in human history, beginning from his infancy and expanding at breakneck speeds to his lasting legacy on this planet. This is one that is surely not to be missed by students of science, history, or human behavior at any level.

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oppenheimer style

this book helped me learn what becoming the bomb was all about oppenheimer style

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A great historical account of in incredible life

An accurate and sometimes dry account of an icon of American science. Recommended for WWII and Cold War history buffs.

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Very detailed but poor production

A great source of everything Oppenheimer
Warning: you really must desire to know this level of detail. I was so no problem there
The audio production is poor by todays standards. The author clearly goes in and adds details using different mics, different intonation and volume
It was distracting

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An extraordinary man. Good listen before the movie.

Solid and well researched book.

Left me interested to learn more about the Manhattan project and the leadership decisions that fueled the Cold War arms race. Disheartened by revengeful politics and unsavory McCarthyism.

Well narrated, but often poorly edited/ produced- many partial sentences re-recorded with different audio setup were cut in and out - this made for a distracting flow.

Recommended and worthy of the time.

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