The Making of the Atomic Bomb

Richard Rhodes, The making of the atomic bomb. 978-0-671-44133-3

The Making of the Atomic Bomb has everything that a history book can have. In-depth and beneath the surface of both topics and people; well-written with a balance between the overall message and amusing anecdotes; a broad perspective on some of the more controversial points; and even-though the outcome is often known, the narrative is still gripping.

The book starts before nuclear physics barely got its legs, and spends the first third introducing the roster of well-known physicist. Numerous threads are carried through: Leo Szilard’s struggle to engage in nuclear and chain reaction research and advocacy; Niels Bohr’s work on physics and his observations on complementarity; the emmigrated European scientists who try to settle into the US; and, core to it all, the development of nuclear physics and the atomic bomb. All this occurs somewhat interleaved and is handled masterfully by Rhodes.

While reading, I made note of the very well-chosen chapter titles in contrast to the rather frank title of the book. However, the making in the title alludes to much more than just the act of construction. It could refer to what drove the people to do what they do; what rationalizations allowed for escalating destruction during World War II; how the current image of the atomic bomb is shaped by the haunting reality of the of the Hiroshima bombing. All this is captured.

The Making of the Atomic Bomb is easily one of the best books I have yet read and it can not be recommended enough.