Robert Oppenheimer The Man And His Theories

by Michel Rouzé

J. Robert Oppenheimer (22 aprilie 1904 – 18 februarie 1967) a fost un profesor de fizică la Universitatea din California, Berkeley. Fiind șeful Laboratorului Los Alamos în timpul celui de-al Doilea Război Mondial este adesea creditat drept „părintele bombei atomice” pentru rolul său în Proiectul Manhattan care a dezvoltat prima armă nucleară din lume.

Cunoscutul publicist francez Michel Rouzé prezintă o imagine vie a evenimentelor științifice și politice din preajma și din timpul celui de-al Doilea Război Mondial. El face, totodată, unele analize interesante ale vieții științifice din Statele Unite din perioada postbelică, când dorința majorității savanților de a se consacra cercetării libere se lovește de tendința puternică de militarizare a științei, de prigoana împotriva conștiințelor libere, prigoană căreia îi cade victimă însuși autorul bombei atomice americane — J. Robert Oppenheimer.

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ran across this book on the reserve shelf at my local library. I was drawn to it because of the chapters exploring whether scientists are responsible for how their research is used. Unlike some other biographies, this book was written while Oppenheimer was still alive, so it probably presents a slightly different take than you're used to. It also doesn't delve extensively into his childhood or college years. Instead it focuses on his time at Los Alamos and his subsequent lectures and writings.

Rouzé excels at clearly presenting the basics of the science involved in the development of the atom bomb. Physics and math are not my specialties, but I felt like I understood the topics covered (although I can't speak to how much of the physics is still relevant today). I also liked how Rouzé doesn't shy away from inserting some of his own opinions on the bomb, Oppenheimer, and Oppenheimer's treatment by the US after the war.

Much of the book focuses on Oppenheimer's concern that science across all fields is becoming so complex that it can not be adequately explained to the average person (or even a scientist in another field). I think this is a very interesting issue, which has only become more relevant since this biography was written. Although, I didn't come away from this book feeling like I got to know all the ins and outs of Oppenheimer, I did learn quite a bit about him, how science was practiced during his time, and his treatment after the war by the US government. If you aren't ready to tackle a doorstopper biography of Oppenheimer, then pick this book up. It is a quick, enjoyable, and very informative read which provides a snapshot of the time that you might not get in more recent books on the subject.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book ended up being much more insightful and informative than I originally gave it credit for. A lot of good thoughts about Oppenheimer’s work and legacy, the science that led to the creation of the atom bomb, and some interesting conversations on the scientist’s responsibility to society and to the development of such things as nuclear weapons.