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Manhattan Project: The Untold Story of the Making of the Atomic Bomb
Describes the scientists, technicians, and businesses who participated in America's 3-year project to construct the atomic bomb
416 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1967
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 14, 2013
I love this book! I've read it at least 3 times! Some would probably find it dry and boring, but if you really want a look at what these geniuses came up with under pressure, it's friggin' amazing! It's very detailed.
July 12, 2014
I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the Richard Rhodes book on the making of the atomic bomb. Groueff concentrates on the enormous engineering challenges of the project (especially on the production of fissile material), with the figure of General Groves at the centre of the narrative. One engineer after another is introduced to us (normally just a paragraph or two) and his part in solving some seemingly intractable problem is explained. Groueff seems to take the side of the engineers against the scientists and perhaps that's a useful redress of balance - most of the books on the project tend to focus more on the scientists than the engineers.
One thing I found curious about the book: there are numerous references to engineers being the sons of ministers, and most of them seem to be from solid WASP backgrounds. Mention of the background of non WASP's is surprisingly thin - for example, the backgrounds of the numerous Jewish scientists are glossed over. Maybe this is part of the previously mentioned bias towards the engineers, but it felt to me that the book had an underlying theme - that the success of the project was essentially down to a good old American "can-do" approach and gung ho attitudes. Ie, it felt to me that the emphasis on WASPs was part of an attempt to play down the importance of elements that were not as American as baseball. The British contribution, too, was only acknowledged late in the book.
However, this is probably nit-picking. The stories are good and it's useful to see the project from a different angle to the usual one.
One thing I found curious about the book: there are numerous references to engineers being the sons of ministers, and most of them seem to be from solid WASP backgrounds. Mention of the background of non WASP's is surprisingly thin - for example, the backgrounds of the numerous Jewish scientists are glossed over. Maybe this is part of the previously mentioned bias towards the engineers, but it felt to me that the book had an underlying theme - that the success of the project was essentially down to a good old American "can-do" approach and gung ho attitudes. Ie, it felt to me that the emphasis on WASPs was part of an attempt to play down the importance of elements that were not as American as baseball. The British contribution, too, was only acknowledged late in the book.
However, this is probably nit-picking. The stories are good and it's useful to see the project from a different angle to the usual one.
April 5, 2021
Останах приятно изненадан от тази книга на Стефан Груев. Не съм голям почитател на химията и физиката, благодарение на годините прекарани в училище, но Груев ми запали искрицата. Разказът е изключително подробен на моменти, но важното беше, че постоянно те държи в напрежение. Споменават се много места, имена и детайли свързани с процеса на изработването на бомбата. Това, което са направили американците е буквално реализиране на една фантазия. Четейки ставаш част от тази сюрреалистична идея. В общи линии е трябвало да бъдат създадени 100 неща за първи път, като само едно неизпълнено е водило до неуспешен резултат целия проект. Това не е книга за Хирошима и Нагасаки, нито пък се говори за моралната и чисто човешка страна на нещата. Това е книга за научните постижения, довели до смъртта на 300 000 човека.
November 15, 2020
Exceptionally good, if you don't expect to really understand any of the physics/complexities of the project.
Very good at explaining the number of complexities and unknowns, and how resolute determination and apparently infinite amount of resources were able to meet the challenge.
Made me really understand how it would have been impossible not to use the bomb, after pouring so much effort into its creation.
It does make me wonder why there's no national monument to General Groves; surely everyone who would have had to make the Japan homeland invasion would have contributed.
Very good at explaining the number of complexities and unknowns, and how resolute determination and apparently infinite amount of resources were able to meet the challenge.
Made me really understand how it would have been impossible not to use the bomb, after pouring so much effort into its creation.
It does make me wonder why there's no national monument to General Groves; surely everyone who would have had to make the Japan homeland invasion would have contributed.
January 14, 2023
Very interesting book to understand complexity behind creating first Atomic bomb. Amazing to see how thousands of people were organized in this challenging project from engineer perspective and also very secret as it was done during WW2. Also from project management perspective this is unique view of how such project can be managed back in 1940s. Recommend the book also for people without interest of physics or chemistry as the full story is so interesting.
April 16, 2021
Extremely well researched. I have read several books about this Project and this is the easiest to understand. He reduces the technical language to make it easy to understand. I also appreciated the short chapters.
June 24, 2022
The story of the project, especially the managerial genius of Leslie Groves is interesting. I thought Richard Rhodes' book was better overall.
January 19, 2023
At times, technically difficult but overall, awe inspiring. A nation involved in one of the most difficult undertakings in human history.
June 9, 2023
Very readable and enjoyable. I am glad i read it. Short interesting chapters, here is a good companion.
https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhatta...
5 stars for a readable understandable story of a massive undertaking.
https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhatta...
5 stars for a readable understandable story of a massive undertaking.
September 15, 2007
On several trips to Los Alamos over the years plus five years spent working at the University of Chicago right across from where the first sustained nuclear took place, I've gotten a pretty good idea of what went into the development of the atomic bomb -- or at least I thought I had until I read this book.
What was missing from the picture for me was the absolutely huge effort that went into producing enough uranium 235 and plutonium for the two bombs that were ultimately designed at Los Alamos. And that, I learned, took place at labs and immense purpose-built plants around the country, including at Oak Ridge, TN and Hanford, WA. I vaguely knew that Oak Ridge was involved in the Manhattan Project, but in the detailed description of the scope of the project in this book, I realized that Los Alamos was not the only "secret city" or "atomic city" during the final years of the wear.
The Manhattan Project is in large part an ode to the usually unsung heroes of industry and engineering as well as the military project managers -- not just to the scientific minds behind the development of the bomb. Front and center is Brigadier General Leslie R. Groves, but there's a cast of scores of people who had a hand in developing the techniques needed to separate out the necessary uranium 235 and plutonium, come up with ways to trigger the bomb, designed the various plants that manufactured needed components, and other vital tasks. This is definitely a "nuts and bolts" or "the way things work" account of how the bomb was built, with almost no stone unturned in describing each aspect of design -- and the countless obstacles and setbacks met along the way.
The reason I don't rate the book higher, however, is that there is a certain predictability in the descriptions of the key figures involved -- a faint (radioactive?) glow of hagiograpy, if you will. Some of the narrative gets bogged down. While the author made it abundantly clear that almost insurmountable obstacles were overcome, reading about each and every one of them got a bit tiresome. The book straddled two purposes -- a factual narrative and a "you are there" suspense tale, but the latter suffered from the former (plus, of course, we all know how the tale ended).
What was missing from the picture for me was the absolutely huge effort that went into producing enough uranium 235 and plutonium for the two bombs that were ultimately designed at Los Alamos. And that, I learned, took place at labs and immense purpose-built plants around the country, including at Oak Ridge, TN and Hanford, WA. I vaguely knew that Oak Ridge was involved in the Manhattan Project, but in the detailed description of the scope of the project in this book, I realized that Los Alamos was not the only "secret city" or "atomic city" during the final years of the wear.
The Manhattan Project is in large part an ode to the usually unsung heroes of industry and engineering as well as the military project managers -- not just to the scientific minds behind the development of the bomb. Front and center is Brigadier General Leslie R. Groves, but there's a cast of scores of people who had a hand in developing the techniques needed to separate out the necessary uranium 235 and plutonium, come up with ways to trigger the bomb, designed the various plants that manufactured needed components, and other vital tasks. This is definitely a "nuts and bolts" or "the way things work" account of how the bomb was built, with almost no stone unturned in describing each aspect of design -- and the countless obstacles and setbacks met along the way.
The reason I don't rate the book higher, however, is that there is a certain predictability in the descriptions of the key figures involved -- a faint (radioactive?) glow of hagiograpy, if you will. Some of the narrative gets bogged down. While the author made it abundantly clear that almost insurmountable obstacles were overcome, reading about each and every one of them got a bit tiresome. The book straddled two purposes -- a factual narrative and a "you are there" suspense tale, but the latter suffered from the former (plus, of course, we all know how the tale ended).
May 23, 2008
Excellent! Anyone who has ever worked on a big project, in industry or engineering, would love this book. It is an absolutely fascinating look at one of the biggest, most unusual projects ever attempted.
The author tells the story very well, does not omit technical details, and tries to give as much background information as possible on all of the main characters.
The author tells the story very well, does not omit technical details, and tries to give as much background information as possible on all of the main characters.
August 29, 2016
Worthwhile but times very scientific. Gives an excellent view of the vastness of this project - places, people, materials. The intelligence and youth of the scientists (a large majority who were immigrants to the United States) and some just "ordinary" people who knew how to do certain jobs, all who did so much to end the war and keep the country safe.
April 11, 2008
Enlightening book, a bit long but very detailed. Fascinating subject.
August 15, 2011
too detailed for me
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews