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American Prometheus
- The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
- Narrated by: Jeff Cummings
- Length: 26 hrs and 30 mins
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American Prometheus
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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.
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
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jonathan catlin
- 14-07-22
A humanising Insight
It is difficult to truly understand someone. This book makes a dam good stab at it.
Whilst aspects are tragic, the story of Robert J Oppenheimer should be celebrated for his commitment to science and human thinking.
He seems ambiguous at times but context defines the nuonces.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 21-10-23
Superb
If you have watched the movie, this book is a perfect complement! Shedding light on key events.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- steve farmer
- 24-09-23
Excellent !!
I saw the film first and decided to give it a go. It’s a long one nut worth the investment . Highly recommend 👍
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Matt W
- 27-05-23
Definitive biography but poor production
Very detailed bio. But the audio, recorded back in 2007, is pretty ropey with varying sound volume and obvious edits.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 13-08-23
Excellent audio book
Decided to listen after watching the film adaptation and it made me realise how true to the book Christopher Nolan was. The book managed to help pad out the story even more. Really enjoyed listening. A life full of contradictions and compromise.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- gregoire
- 30-10-23
Very interesting and well written
Obviously as many other came from the film to the boo and was not disappointed the world and life of J Robert Oppenheimer deserved a well written account of this life. The background of his family and young age were particularly interesting to me
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Manuela Stura
- 18-02-24
Incredible, inimitable life of a unique soul , embodied in mortal vests
Outstanding and monumental work , derailed and never boating . Biography is a tricky genre , the authors put in words a complex and unrepeatable story catching inner and intimate aspects drawing a complete picture of the soul and the man , as well as the facts
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Chaitali Desai
- 27-03-23
A book everyone should read
I tend to avoid biographies, I prefer the escapism fiction brings you. But this book is so important a story of what politics, narrow-mindedness, and power in the wrong hands can do to a person who deserves nothing more than the utmost respect, that I would read again and recommend to everyone that will listen. It’s also incredibly frightening that some of the themes of Western arrogance, government paranoia and political hypocrisy are so recognisable even today, 70 years after the AEC trial described.
I know other reviewers have criticised the change in accent, voice and tone through the book. I actually feel these only enhance the narration and the story, and go a long way towards preventing a long, verbose and complex subject being lost for the everyday reader. It’s a credit to the authors and the narrator that a discussion of atomic physics and other complicated subjects don’t even once become boring. Rarely does a book make me excited to watch the film, but after this I cannot wait to see the Christopher Nolan cinematic dramatisation, after which I will undoubtedly listen to the book once more.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs E Crouch
- 28-07-23
Fascinating biography
I never read biographies or autobiographies but I was fascinated by the man after watching Oppenheimer. This is written so well, it’s almost like a story.
The reviews saying the narration is choppy have completely missed the point; the changes in intonation are when the book goes from normal prose into a verbatim quote. In a book you can see this by formatting. In the audiobook you can hear this by the vocal change in the way something has been said.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Elanna76
- 29-08-23
Poses important questions
Expertly narrated. The casual and up-beat tone grated with the intensity of the movie I had just watched, but that faded with time.
Don't expect a book about physics, because it is not. Bird was more interested in Oppenheimer's role in changing the scientist's position in society, and in his security hearing's role in putting scientists back in their place when they disagreed with the military. A fascinating read, not always pleasant but quite complex and well-researched.
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