Day of Trinity

by Lansing Lamont

The dramatic story of the men who, in July 1945, opened the atomic age.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Military Fiction

363 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

A graduate of Harvard University and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Lansing Lamont was a national political correspondent for Time magazine’s Washington bureau from 1961 – 1968. During that time, he covered the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, as well as the 1964 and 1968 Republication and Democratic conventions and presidential campaigns. He was deputy chief of Time’s London bureau from 1969 – 1971, chief Canada correspondent from 1971-1973, and United Nations bureau chief and world affairs writer from 1973 – 1975.

Lamont currently lives with his wife in New York, where he is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs. You Must Remember This is his seventh book.

Reviews

[John]

a straight forward telling of the Trinity test

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, written in 1965, is a fairly general synopsis of the Manhattan Project. If you've never read anything about the effort to create the first atomic bomb, this would be a credible start. If you're detail oriented, or a history nerd like me, and want something that gives you a much richer view of the personalities and events involved in atomic physics, the events leading up to the formation of the Manhattan Project team, the creation of the Los Alamos laboratories, the trials and tribulations involved in the scientist's efforts to prove and test their own theories, and the test of the first bomb at Alamogordo, you should read "The Making Of The Atomic Bomb" by Richard Rhodes. An absolutely stellar book. You can also read "109 East Palace" by Jennett Conant for a less technical, human interest side of Los Alamos.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

An extended Time magazine-style piece chronicling the preparation for, and the testing in New Mexico in 1945 of the first atomic bomb. In 1965 when this was written, Lamont’s behind-the-scenes, you-are-there description of the minting of the two-sided Atomic Age/Cold War coin humanized the effort and afforded perspective to the Lucies and Desis, Kramdens and Nortons struggling to get a handle on a century whose great promise came with the constant threat of horrific destruction.

Fifty years later, we are accustomed to huge technological advances every few years, and we live with seemingly daily outbursts of violent, senseless death. The science-project events of 1945 no longer fascinate; but those questing, conflicted personalities still intrigue us, peeping through Lamont’s narrative like Hemingway characters fighting out of a briefing document.

[Judith Croiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this years ago...fascinating story of the Trinity project and its cast of famous scientists and military people. I read and re-read the opening lines of the chapter describing the first detonation of an atom bomb several times...awesome and terrifying.

[Ray Savarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book detailing the work of the atomic bomb development in WW2, and the follow up after the war. Engaging, thought provoking, and not really dated although it was originally written in 1965 and updated in 1985.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars… maybe 3.75

[Dennis Kocik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great early read on the history of the development and results of the Manhattan Project. Highly recommended

[Chris Gager · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a number of years ago so the date read is a guess. I was reminded of it as I was entering "Hiroshima". When you drive on I-25 south of Albuquerque you can "see" the Trinity site off in the distance to the East. There is a place in New Mexico called "Jornada del Muerto"(Death Journey) that's close by. Thoroughly engrossing book.