The Greatest Scientific Gamble: A Story of Impossible Odds, Rival Scientists, and the Atomic Bomb

by Michael Joseloff

During World War II, a group of physicists who had once been close friends found themselves on opposite sides of a deadly race. German scientist Werner Heisenberg and American physicists Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Sam Goudsmit were all leading figures in nuclear research. But after the attack on Pearl Harbor, their shared passion for science turned into a high-stakes competition to build the world’s first atomic bomb—a weapon that could determine the outcome of the war. Heisenberg had a two-year head start, and the possibility that Nazi Germany might beat the Allies to the bomb terrified American scientists. The Manhattan Project, led by U.S. Army General Leslie Groves, became a massive effort to catch up. Fear of Heisenberg haunted Manhattan Project scientists. At one point, Groves even approved plans to bomb Heisenberg’s lab and assassinate him to stop Germany’s progress. Meanwhile, Sam Goudsmit led a secret military unit tasked with tracking down Heisenberg and uncovering the truth about the Nazi nuclear program. What they found would surprise everyone. The Greatest Scientific Gamble tells the dramatic and little-known story of how personal relationships, wartime fear, and scientific ambition collided in the race to unlock the power of the atom.

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 1, 2026

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has many strong points. I loved the subject matter; not the usual how-the-bomb-was-made stuff. The writing was crisp and the pacing was great; there was no belabouring a point here or getting mired in the details. The science was well-explained and I loved the news bites at the start of several chapters, giving more global context to the events. Overall, this was a great read. Thank you to Netgalley and Michigan State University Press for the advance reader copy.