logo

71 pages 2 hours read

Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

Kai Bird, Martin J. SherwinNonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2005

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin

American Prometheus

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2005
Book Details
Pages

721

Format

Biography • Nonfiction

Setting

Various places • 20th Century

Publication Year

2005

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin is a biography detailing the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who led the US atomic bomb program during World War II. From his directorship at Los Alamos to the moral dilemmas following the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the book chronicles his later efforts against nuclear proliferation and the tragic fallout of his 1954 security clearance hearing, amidst Cold War anti-Communist hysteria. Human experiences of mental health crises and distress are depicted in this work.

Informative

Mysterious

Contemplative

Challenging

Dark

Reviews & Readership

4.5

61,140 ratings

87%

Loved it

9%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin meticulously details J. Robert Oppenheimer's life, capturing his brilliance and controversies. Critics laud its thorough research and engaging prose, though some find the depth occasionally overwhelming. Overall, it’s a compelling, nuanced biography that offers profound insights into Oppenheimer and his era.

Who should read this

Who Should Read American Prometheus?

Readers who are fascinated by the intertwining of science, politics, and ethics would enjoy American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. Comparable to Walter Isaacson’s Einstein and Richard Rhodes’s The Making of the Atomic Bomb, this biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer appeals to those captivated by historical figures who shaped pivotal moments in modern history.

4.5

61,140 ratings

87%

Loved it

9%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

721

Format

Biography • Nonfiction

Setting

Various places • 20th Century

Publication Year

2005

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.