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The Triumph and Tragedy of Robert Oppenheimer: A Life Unraveled

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Published in American Prometheus: The Triumph And Tragedy Of J Robert Oppenheimer

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Robert Oppenheimer was born in New York City in 1904. He was a brilliant student, and he earned his doctorate in physics from the University of Göttingen in Germany in 1927. After completing his doctorate, Oppenheimer returned to the United States and taught at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1942, he was recruited to lead the Manhattan Project, the top-secret government program to develop the atomic bomb.

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

by Kai Bird

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	1141 pages

Oppenheimer was a brilliant scientist, and he played a key role in the development of the atomic bomb. He was also a complex man, and he was deeply troubled by the implications of his work. After the war, Oppenheimer became a vocal critic of nuclear weapons, and he was eventually stripped of his security clearance by the Atomic Energy Commission.

Oppenheimer's life was a tragedy in many ways. He was a brilliant scientist who was haunted by the consequences of his work. He was also a complex man who was never able to fully come to terms with his own inner demons.

In this meticulously researched and brilliantly written biography, Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin tell the full story of Robert Oppenheimer's life. They draw on a wealth of new sources, including interviews with Oppenheimer's family and friends, to create a portrait of a complex and fascinating man. The Triumph and Tragedy of Robert Oppenheimer is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the atomic bomb, the Cold War, or the life of one of the most brilliant scientists of the 20th century.

Reviews

"A magisterial biography...Bird and Sherwin have produced a definitive account of Oppenheimer's life and work." - The New York Times

"A brilliant and deeply moving portrait of a complex and fascinating man." - The Washington Post

"The Triumph and Tragedy of Robert Oppenheimer is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the atomic bomb, the Cold War, or the life of one of the most important scientists of the 20th century." - The Wall Street Journal

About the Authors

Kai Bird is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and journalist. He is the author of several books, including American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer and The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames.

Martin Sherwin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and professor of history at George Mason University. He is the author of several books, including A World Destroyed: The Atomic Bomb and the Grand Alliance and American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.

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

by Kai Bird

4.7 out of 5