Richard Rhodes

Richard Rhodes, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 'The Making of the Atomic Bomb,' shares insights into J. Robert Oppenheimer's multifaceted personality and his leadership during the Manhattan Project. They discuss Oppenheimer's charm and cruel moments, the urgency behind creating the bomb to counter Nazi Germany, and the ethical dilemmas he faced post-Hiroshima. Rhodes also examines the psychological toll on Oppenheimer in his later years and critiques the recent film adaptation, highlighting how it captures the complexities of his legacy.

In this engaging discussion, Richard Rhodes, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and expert on nuclear history, dives into the parallels between AI advancements and the Manhattan Project. He shares personal memories of visiting Soviet scientists post-USSR and reflects on J. Robert Oppenheimer's complex legacy. Rhodes also addresses pressing global concerns, such as the risks of nuclear conflict in Ukraine and North Korea, and the moral dilemmas faced by physicists during WWII. The conversation brilliantly intertwines historical insights with contemporary issues surrounding nuclear weapons.

Richard Rhodes is an American historian and the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Making of the Atomic Bomb. Full transcript available at: thejspod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.