#1907

Mentioned in 14 episodes

The Making of the Atomic Bomb

Book • 1986

This book provides a detailed and panoramic account of the development of the atomic bomb, starting from the early 19th-century discoveries in physics to the culmination of the Manhattan Project during World War II. It includes the contributions of key scientists such as Niels Bohr, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Leo Szilard, and others, and explores the scientific, political, and human aspects that led to the creation and use of the atomic bomb.

The book won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award for its rigorous scholarship and compelling narrative.

Mentioned by

Michael Shellenberger

Michael Shermer

Brian McCullough

Srinath Raghavan

Albion Lawrence

Mentioned in 14 episodes

Recommended by Rachel Bedard as a book that reads like a blockbuster movie, about how scientific breakthroughs happen and how they're shaped by social forces.

MAHA Is a Bad Answer to a Good Question

Mentioned by

Dwarkesh Patel

when discussing books on the Manhattan Project.

Leopold Aschenbrenner — 2027 AGI, China/US super-intelligence race, & the return of history

Mentioned by

Jacob Howland

as a favorite book that explains theoretical physics and the discovery of the atom.

536. Ancient Stories That Bridge The Heavens & The Earth | Jacob Howland

Mentioned by

Dwarkesh Patel

when discussing the competition between military branches in post-war Japan.

Sarah C. M. Paine — Why dictators keep making the same fatal mistake

Mentioned by

Ben Wilson

as one of his main sources for the podcast episode.

Mentioned by

Joe Walker

in the introduction, referencing Richard Rhodes' work on nuclear history.

Richard Butler — Nuclear Diplomacy at the End of History

Mentioned by

Derek Thompson

as the author of "The Making of the Atomic Bomb", discussing J. Robert Oppenheimer's life and the Manhattan Project.

Oppenheimer: The Genius, the Film, and the Project That Changed the World

Mentioned by

Srinath Raghavan

as a book that had a significant impact on him.

Ep. 93: America in South Asia

Recommended by

Joe Walker

as the canonical history on the Manhattan Project.

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Mentioned by

Michael Shellenberger

as one of his favorite books, highlighting the importance of labor-saving devices like dishwashers.

Michael Shellenberger Exposes Who’s to Blame for the LA Fire Disaster

Mentioned by

Michael Shermer

as one of the best books he read on nuclear weapons.

Neal Stephenson on Predicting the Metaverse, Crypto, and AI Decades Ahead

Recommended by

Brian McCullough

for understanding the history of the atomic bomb.

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Mentioned by

Carolyn Porco

as the author of "The Making of the Atomic Bomb", which was the basis for a Hollywood film.

Space meets Earth, Porco and Dawkins in Glasgow

Recommended by

Brian McCullough

as further reading on the history of the atomic bomb, offering a more complete picture than the film Oppenheimer.

Fri. 07/21 – Reddit Doesn’t Blink

Mentioned by

Albion Lawrence

as a good starting point to discuss scientific collaboration, highlighting its combination of history, biography, and science writing.

Scientists Cooperate while Humanists Ruminate (EF, JP)

Recommended by

Dario Amodei

as an example of technology developed rapidly with broad implications.

What if Dario Amodei Is Right About A.I.?

Mentioned by

John Brockman

as a book that sparked his interest in radiochemistry.

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