American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert OppenheimerAmerican Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Score Modern
What it's about
The definitive biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant, restless physicist who led the Manhattan Project and became known as the father of the atomic bomb. It follows him from a privileged, lonely New York childhood through his rise in theoretical physics, the race to build the bomb at Los Alamos, his fame afterward, and his downfall in 1954, when a government security hearing stripped him of his clearance amid suspicion over his past left-wing ties.
Why it's worth reading
It's a gripping portrait of a genius haunted by what he made, and of how America turned on him. It won the Pulitzer Prize and was the basis for the film Oppenheimer.
You'll love it if you liked
The Making of the Atomic Bomb
King: A Life
The Right StuffGood to know
It's long, over 700 pages, with a lot of detail on the security hearing near the end. Reading The Making of the Atomic Bomb first isn't necessary, but the two pair beautifully.
By the numbers
- Readers90 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics81 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller72 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #6 of the 198 history books we rank
- #8 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #18 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #35 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer worth reading?
Yes. It's a gripping portrait of a genius haunted by what he made, and of how America turned on him. It ranks #35 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 90.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer about?
The definitive biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant, restless physicist who led the Manhattan Project and became known as the father of the atomic bomb. It follows him from a privileged, lonely New York childhood through his rise in theoretical physics, the race to build the bomb at Los Alamos, his fame afterward, and his downfall in 1954, when a government security hearing stripped him of his clearance amid suspicion over his past left-wing ties.
How long does it take to read American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer?
About 20 hours (786 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer won?
Pulitzer Prize (Biography) winner (2006); NBCC Award (Biography) winner (2005).
What should I read after American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer?
If you liked it, try The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes, King: A Life by Jonathan Eig or The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe.