American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai BirdMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Kai Bird delves into the fascinating life of Robert Oppenheimer, examining his contradictions, awkwardness, genius and cunning.
I was drawn to the book by Christopher Nolan's brilliant film, and hoped for even more insight and context. That's exactly what I got. Bird manages to make even the moribund aspects of Oppenheimer's life fascinating, and is able to frame the man he became with enough details of his youth to craft a convincing pshychodramatic portrait.
This is a book to savor and absorb. Even though there is a decided slant to the writing, making Bird seem to be a hagiographic apologist, the author allows for enough balance for the readers to make their own conclusions.
A fascinating read from start to finish, "American Prometheus" is an even greater achievement than the landmark movie it inspired.
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