Memoirs: A Twentieth-Century Journey in Science and Politics

by Edward Teller, Judith Schoolery, Judith Shoolery

The story of Edward Teller is the story of the twentieth century. Born in Hungary in 1908, Teller witnessed the rise of Nazism and anti-Semitism, two world wars, the McCarthy era, and the changing face of big science. A brilliant and controversial figure whose work on nuclear weapons was key to the American war effort, Teller has long believed in freedom through strong defense, a philosophy reflected in his stance on arms control and nuclear policy. These extraordinary recollections at last reveal the man behind the headlines-passionate and humorous, devoted and loyal. In clear and compelling prose, Teller tells of the people, events, and ideas that shaped him as a scientist, beginning with his early love of music and math, and continuing with his study of quantum physics with Werner Heisenberg. Present at many of the pivotal moments in modern science, Teller also describes his friendships with some of the century's greatest minds-Einstein, Bohr, Fermi, Szilard, von Neumann, Oppenheimer-and offers an honest account of the development of the atomic and hydrogen bombs. He also offers a moving portrait of his childhood, his marriage and family life, and his friendship with physicist Maria Mayer. Writing about those aspects of his life that have had important public consequences-from his conservative politics to his relationships with scientists and presidents-Teller reveals himself to be a man with deep beliefs about liberty, security, and the moral responsibility of science.

Genres: Biography, Science, History, Physics, Memoir, Politics, Nonfiction

640 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2001

About the author

Of all the scientists who worked on the U.S. nuclear weapons program none have led more controversial a career than Edward Teller. Described by one Nobel Prize winner in physics as "one of the most thoughtful statesmen of science," and by another as "a danger to all that's important," Teller was recognized by most of his colleagues as being one of the most imaginative and creative physicists alive. But at the same time, his single-minded pursuit of the hydrogen bomb, and his autocratic style alienated many of the scientists he worked with.

The man who would one day be known as the father of the hydrogen bomb in the U.S. was born into a Jewish family on January 15, 1908 in Budapest, Hungary. He grew up during a particularly turbulent time in Hungarian history. Following a briefly successful communist regime in 1919, the country was ruled by a virulently anti-semitic fascist dictator, Nicholas Horthy.

The political upheavals meant the young Teller was only too happy to leave his homeland in 1926 to study in Germany. In 1930 he got his PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Leipzig. Although he accepted a research post in 1931 following his graduation, Teller realized that Hitler's rise to power meant that he should leave Germany as soon as he could. Many years later he told his biographer that "the hope of making an academic career in Germany for a Jew existed before Hitler came and vanished the day he arrived."

In 1935 Teller emigrated to the United States to take up a teaching position at George Washington University. His first years in the U.S. marked a new phase of his career: His postdoctoral research had been in quantum mechanics; at George Washington University, he would begin a very productive collaboration with Russian emigré George Gamow in nuclear physics. At the outbreak of the Second World War, scientists became aware that the nucleus of a uranium atom could be split releasing enormous amounts of energy. It began to seem feasible that this energy could be used to create a weapon of unprecedented power. Teller was among the first scientists recruited to work on the Manhattan Project that was working to develop such a bomb.

It was Italian-born physicist Enrico Fermi who first got Teller thinking about an H-bomb. In September 1941, before the United States had even built an A-bomb, he suggested to Teller that an atomic bomb might heat a mass of deuterium (an isotope of hydrogen) sufficiently to ignite a thermonuclear reaction. In the summer of 1942, when Teller joined a group of distinguished physicists who were brainstorming about a design for the atomic bomb, he diverted much of the discussion to the feasibility of a superbomb. Teller travelled to California with his old friend Hans Bethe who remembers that even on the way out to Berkeley Teller was already thinking about the super: "Teller told me that the fission bomb [atomic bomb] was all well and good and, essentially, was now a sure thing.. He said that what we really should think about was the possibility of...the hydrogen bomb."

Shortly after Teller arrived at the newly established weapons laboratory in Los Alamos, his obsession with the H-bomb caused tensions with other scientists, particularly Bethe. Bethe remembers that "he declined to take charge of the group which would perform the detailed calculation on the implosion and since the theoretical division was very shorthanded it was necessary to bring in new scientists to do the work that Teller declined to do."

Teller left Los Alamos at the end of the war, returning to the University of Chicago. But when the Soviet Union conducted its first test of an atomic device in August 1949, he did his best to drum up support for a crash program to build a hydrogen bomb. Teller argued that a superbomb was essential to the very survival of the U.S., "If the Russians demonstrate a super before we possess one, our situation will be hopeless." Truman eventually agreed, calling for a hyd

Reviews

[stella b]

Very illuminating on 20th century science and politics. Although, reading it as somebody who fundamentally disagrees with Teller’s politics was sometimes difficult. I am proud to be somebody who can read about and listen to people whom I disagree with, and I’m glad I read this book—I certainly learned a lot—but, like I said, occasionally while reading I was outwardly sighing every five minutes. I’m interested in reading more perspectives on the development of the H-bomb.

[riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

why does nobody talk about how ede wrote this book when he was fucking 90 like thats insane

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

A man who helped create the atomic bomb, you would think this man's tale would be an interesting read, well its not, in fact this book is very boring. If your into mathematics than maybe you can get though this book for all he really talks about is math theory and all the boring parts of his life. He tells it in a very straight forward and liner path that there really isn't any excitement or great insight into the man who helped create the atom bomb and had a profound impact on the world, it feels like your reading the notes of an average math student in college. I will say this the good part about this book is the first part when he talks about growing up in Eastern Europe after WW1 and all the chaos in those times and him seeing the rise of Nazism and trying to escape it, that part is good and a good first person account of those times, but the rest of the book falls very flat.

[T Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edward Teller begins by discussing his beginnings as a physicist in Europe, working with greats such as Heisenberg and Bohr - then moves on to discuss his time working in the United States - meeting with, befriending and working together with other well-known persons (Einstein, Fermi, Johnny, etcetera) while providing a nice history of the development of quantum mechanics and nuclear physics along the way. He provides the point of view, that Oppenheimer may have been against the H-bomb and Livermore due to not wanting competition with Los Alamos - versus the accusation from the security clearance board that he was attempting treason. Teller also defends his testimonial against Oppenheimer, saying it was mostly due to his confusion over the Chevalier incident. All in all, a great and lengthy book (lengthy due to the precise nature of Teller in explaining himself in draw-out fashion).

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an outstanding memoir that far exceeded my expectations. Often, memoirs include details doubtless of interest to the author but less so to the reader. The first five chapters cover Teller’s childhood and youth, yet the author captivates the reader and sustains interest throughout. In chapter six, Teller describes his first direct encounter with antisemitism: he asked a chemistry professor a question and received a hate-filled, answer-free response of rudeness. This chapter delves deeply into technical details; it appeals to enthusiasts, but persist with it. It illustrates how Teller shifted from studying chemistry and mathematics to pursuing physics. Here, too, he recounts losing his foot after leaping from a moving trolley car. One foot failed to clear the track, and following cars ran over it, severing it. Teller remains surprisingly detached about the loss, much to his mother’s distress. Yet darker threats loomed as Hitler’s influence grew and directly affected him. A skilled surgeon who had overseen Teller’s care abruptly left the country without explanation. Teller believes the doctor belonged to an early anti-Hitler movement and fled when it became evident that Hitler would seize greater power. Reflecting on that era, Teller wrote, “Most people don’t know what is coming, and those who do dare not resist.”

Readers glimpse Teller’s charm in chapter 15, where he admits mastering physics thoroughly yet struggling to drive a nail or perform the simplest home repairs.

I read with fascination about the challenges Teller and other scientists faced in envisioning a nuclear future for the world. He states at least twice that he harbors no regret for his work on the bombs dropped over Japan, though he deeply regrets the deaths and destruction their use caused. Teller advocated detonating a demonstration bomb over Tokyo Bay, enabling the Japanese to witness its immense power and magnitude. He believed Japan would surrender after such a display, though I considered that fallout might still have killed thousands. Nonetheless, his proposal perhaps represented a more ethical path.

One chapter examines Teller’s role in the 1954 Robert Oppenheimer security clearance hearing. The 1954 Oppenheimer security clearance hearing, formally known as the Personnel Security Board hearing under the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), examined whether J. Robert Oppenheimer—former director of the Los Alamos Laboratory during the Manhattan Project—should retain his Q-level security clearance. The proceedings lasted four weeks, from April 12 to May 6, 1954, amid Cold War tensions, concerns over communist associations, and debates about nuclear policy.

Charges against Oppenheimer included his pre-war and wartime contacts with individuals linked to communism, delays or inconsistencies in reporting a suspected espionage approach (the "Chevalier incident"), and his postwar opposition to an accelerated hydrogen bomb program. Many viewed the hearing as influenced by political pressures, including AEC Chairman Lewis Strauss's resentment toward Oppenheimer.

Edward Teller testified on April 28, 1954. He affirmed Oppenheimer's loyalty to the United States but expressed concerns about his judgment. When asked directly about Oppenheimer's reliability for sensitive matters, Teller stated: "In a great number of cases, I have seen Dr. Oppenheimer act in a way which was exceedingly hard to understand. I thoroughly disagreed with him in numerous issues and his actions frankly appeared to me confused and complicated. To this extent I feel that I would like to see the vital interests of this country in hands which I understand better, and therefore trust more."

This testimony proved pivotal and controversial. Many in the scientific community perceived it as damaging, leading to Teller's ostracism by colleagues who felt it betrayed Oppenheimer. Teller later maintained that he did not intend to accuse Oppenheimer of disloyalty and that his reservations focused on postwar actions, particularly regarding the hydrogen bomb, rather than solely on Oppenheimer's alleged lack of enthusiasm for it. In his 2001 memoir, Teller argued that others misinterpreted his ambivalence, insisting it stemmed from broader character and judgment issues, and he provided documentation to support his perspective that the opposition to the H-bomb was not the primary motive.

The Personnel Security Board recommended revoking the clearance by a 2-1 vote on May 27, 1954, finding Oppenheimer loyal but flawed in character and associations. The full AEC upheld this decision 4-1 on June 29, 1954, effectively ending Oppenheimer's government advisory role. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy vacated the revocation, citing a flawed process.

The final chapters prove less compelling. They remain worthwhile, yet they convey a sense that the book mirrors the author’s own gradual decline with age. Even so, I finished fascinated by a man who pledged lifelong loyalty to the Democratic Party yet aligned more closely with Reagan on defense issues. This earns a solid four stars. It might have reached five, but Teller delves into technical explanations too frequently for my preference. The book includes numerous scientific examples that I skipped, as I could not fully comprehend them.

[Mr R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Self-portrait of a man on dubious moral ground

[Betawolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward Teller's memoirs could stand as several different books. The first, and most obvious, would be the biography of a young Hungarian scientist, crossing between some of the major European and then American physics laboratories of the 20th century, and meeting some of the giants of scientific history. Where else might you learn which of Heisenberg or Fermi was the better ping-pong player, or find an evocation of the priestly wisdom of Bohr?

The second use of the memoirs would be as a history of the development of the atomic bomb, and related developments in physics at the beginning of the century. In this regard, Teller is an introductory guide, but perhaps not the best of those available. His work on the project was curtailed to some theoretical and cross-pollination contributions, and there are more central actors whose records no doubt reveal more. I should note, however, that Teller's explanations of his research are usually quite good, so even a relatively ignorant layman can appreciate some of details of the work being undertaken.

The third use of the memoirs would be as a political history of the thermonuclear bomb. To be sure, Teller also gives scientific material from this project its due place, being himself so instrumental to the project, but the thermonuclear sections of the memoirs quickly become incredibly intertwined with the scientific politics surrounding their development. As Teller tells it, he, clearly more right-wing than most of his fellow physicists, was one of very few scientists actively interested in further developing the possibility of the thermonuclear bomb, and faced considerable opposition from opponents such as Oppenheimer, who considered it either impossible or undesirable. The details of this are sordid and somewhat confused, and it is hard to escape the impression that the author is being disingenuous about some of his earlier actions and testimony. Teller's position seems to have been born from a far greater apprehension of the Soviet state and its potential as a foe for the US. Teller's position on this, and his disgruntled testimony at the Oppenheimer hearings, effectively separated him from the majority of the US physics community in the 1960s and for a great deal of time afterward.

Finally, the memoirs can also stand as a polemic about the benefits of nuclear power. Teller makes a strong case that many possible uses of nuclear energy are dismissed not on objective merit but on the basis of a tremendous and irrational public fear of nuclear mishaps and radiation. It is somewhat sad to read of his frantic and futile efforts to launch Plowshare initiatives deploying cheap nuclear explosives for extensive civil engineering projects, knowing that they would never amount to much. Modern alarmism seems no less than when he wrote, to the extent that even the undeniable benefits of nuclear power plants are sometimes threatened.

Very readable, with plenty of scientific material, historic context and amusing anecdotes. Despite finding his account in some places suspect or incomplete, I nonetheless gathered some respect and sympathy for Teller, who so often seems to have spoken for his deeply-held convictions in the face of overwhelming societal pressure to do otherwise.

[Dan Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot, but the last half of the book had so much conflict that I couldn't give it a 5.

Teller knew Fermi, Oppenheimer, Lawrence, Bohr, Einstein, and many other of the great scientists of the past century, and his insights into their characters and nature are the best part of the book. You learn about what kind of people they are like.

His upbringing in Hungary was interesting. He of course worked on the atomic & hydrogen bombs, as well as the Star Wars SDI project. He lived a long life, and had a terrific wife.

I cheered his enthusiasm for conservative views, for nuclear power, and his dark days were in defending these beliefs. He was often in the minority and many of his scientific associates withdrew from him. I hope he is rewarded for his being a great defender of freedom.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this reminded me of why Teller is my hero and favorite physicist.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complicated, tangled, and long, long story. As soon as the USA began work on the A-bomb, the theoretical division at Los Alamos was designing the H-bomb--AKA "The Super." This is where Edward Teller comes in. Teller is/was considered the inventor of the H-bomb.

Read the rest of the review on my blog, and don't forget to listen to my relaxing, dulcet compositions as you read!

Read the complete essay here.

[Nick Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazon 2008-05-19. Having caught up on Freeman Dyson to conclude a set of necessary prereading that began with Stanislav Ulam's Adventures of a Mathematician, I think I'm finally ready to go after the memoirs of this man, the most infamous and politicized of the bomb crew...

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this book, but could not get through it. I was not that interested in over 600 pages of minute details of this man's life.