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

This Pulitzer Prize-winning biography traces the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who led the Manhattan Project and oversaw the development of the first atomic bomb. The narrative moves from his early academic brilliance and involvement in the New York intellectual scene to his pivotal role at Los Alamos during World War II. It then follows his postwar career, detailing his advocacy for international control of nuclear weapons and his subsequent political persecution during the early Cold War, culminating in the revocation of his security clearance.

Description adapted from Open Library ↗.