

#1933
Mentioned in 13 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.
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






















Mentioned in 13 episodes
Mentioned by 

when discussing books on the Manhattan Project.


Dwarkesh Patel

953 snips
Leopold Aschenbrenner - China/US Super Intelligence Race, 2027 AGI, & The Return of History
Mentioned by 

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


Jacob Howland

328 snips
536. Ancient Stories That Bridge The Heavens & The Earth | Jacob Howland
Mentioned by 

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


Dwarkesh Patel

259 snips
Sarah C. M. Paine - WW2, Taiwan, Ukraine, & Maritime vs Continental Powers
Mentioned by 

as one of his main sources for the podcast episode.


Ben Wilson

73 snips
Oppenheimer
Mentioned by 

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


Joe Walker

50 snips
Richard Butler — Nuclear Diplomacy at the End of History
Mentioned by 

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


Derek Thompson

40 snips
Oppenheimer: The Genius, the Film, and the Project That Changed the World
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a book that had a significant impact on him.

Srinath Raghavan

17 snips
Ep. 93: America in South Asia
Recommended by 

as the canonical history on the Manhattan Project.


Joe Walker

14 snips
How a learning athlete prepares to interview Nobel Prize winners (with Joe Walker)
Mentioned by 

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


Michael Shellenberger

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

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


Michael Shermer

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

for understanding the history of the atomic bomb.


Brian McCullough

Fri. 05/26 – AI Google Search Is Here
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

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

Carolyn Porco

Space meets Earth, Porco and Dawkins in Glasgow
Recommended by 

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


Brian McCullough

Fri. 07/21 – Reddit Doesn’t Blink
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

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

Albion Lawrence

Scientists Cooperate while Humanists Ruminate (EF, JP)
Recommended by 

as an example of technology developed rapidly with broad implications.


Dario Amodei

What if Dario Amodei Is Right About A.I.?
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a book that sparked his interest in radiochemistry.

John Brockman

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