The Take

The witnesses of the first nuclear bomb

Aug 7, 2025
Garett Graff, a journalist and historian, shares his insights from his book on the atomic bomb's creation. He explores firsthand accounts from the Manhattan Project, revealing contrasting emotions of jubilation among scientists and devastating trauma among Japanese victims. The discussion highlights the moral complexities and lasting consequences of the atomic bomb on today's geopolitical climate, emphasizing the urgent need to address modern nuclear threats and the challenges posed by emerging technologies like AI.
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INSIGHT

Power of Oral Histories

  • Oral histories capture the uncertainty people faced during the Manhattan Project.
  • They reveal the chaos and complexity often lost in traditional history narratives.
ANECDOTE

Survivors' Harrowing Experiences

  • Survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki endured unimaginable horrors after the bombings.
  • Victims suffered from firestorms, extreme burns, and desperate searches for water.
INSIGHT

Industrial Might Behind The Bomb

  • The Manhattan Project was massive, involving secret cities with huge populations.
  • Its power came from industrial scale, not just the famous scientists like Oppenheimer.
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