American Prometheus
#1007 of 2,654 all-time
American Prometheus
Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin
7 people recommended it in 5 threads, 2010–2025.
What people on Hacker News said
The early part of the book goes in depth to Oppenheimer's social ties to communist groups, which is critical to understanding the reason why he was forbidden from continuing research in the latter part of his life.
This book not only captures the life of a genius, but also exposes the politics and propaganda of WWII, the Cold War and nuclear proliferation (which were conveniently omitted from my government-set high school curriculum), as well as raising issue of morality and the ethical responsibilities of scientists.
Interested in start-ups? They don't come bigger than the Manhattan Project.
I am listening to via Audible and it really gives some fascinating insight into the troubled man's life, much more than the movie did.
American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin goes into much more detail than the film (Oppenheimer).
Might be a bit too focused on Oppenheimer for the original request, but it covers the Manhattan Project more broadly too.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things 2025 · 3 recommendations
- Ask HN: What are the best books you've ever read? 2024 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? 2023 · 1 recommendation
- Good Books for a Lousy Year 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Great books you read in 2009? 2010 · 1 recommendation