NPR's Book of the Day Eighty years after Hiroshima, a new book narrates the history of the atomic bomb
Aug 28, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Pulitzer Prize finalist Garrett Graff shares insights from his new oral history, featuring voices of scientists, survivors, and military officials surrounding the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. He details the urgency and collaboration of the Manhattan Project, revealing how young women in Tennessee played a vital role. Graff also reflects on the emotional toll of these events, the moral complexities involved, and the terrifying implications of nuclear weaponry in today's world. It’s a timely reminder of history’s weight.
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European Exodus Sparked The Project
- The Manhattan Project's roots lie in European scientists fleeing fascism in the 1930s and urging the U.S. to move fast.
- Their fear that Hitler might get the bomb first catalyzed the American crash program that produced the atomic bomb.
Voices Before They Knew The Outcome
- Oral history places you beside people who didn't yet know the outcome, showing their uncertainty and daily life.
- Graff uses voices to convey how scientists wondered if the bomb would work and who would get there first.
Scale Was The Project's Majesty
- The Manhattan Project's scale was uniquely American, building vast secret cities like Oak Ridge and Hanford.
- These facilities employed tens of thousands and didn't appear on any maps despite massive public transit systems and infrastructure.