The Manhattan Project: Big Science and the Atom Bomb

Revolutions in Science

by Jeff Hughes

Launched in 1942, the Manhattan Project was a well-funded, secret effort by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada to develop an atomic bomb before the Nazis. The results―the bombs named "Little Boy" and "Fat Man"―were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945.

A vast state within a state, the Manhattan Project employed 130,000 people and cost the United States and its allies 2 billion dollars, but its contribution to science as a prestigious investment was invaluable. After the bombs were dropped, states began allocating unprecedented funds for scientific research, leading to the establishment of many of twentieth century's major research institutions. Yet the union of science, industry, and the military did not start with the development of the atomic bomb; World War II only deepened the relationship. This absorbing history revisits the interactions among science, the national interest, and public and private funding that was initiated in World War I and flourished in WWII. It then follows the Manhattan Project from inception to dissolution, describing the primary influences that helped execute the world's first successful plan for nuclear research and tracing the lineages of modern national nuclear agencies back to their source.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Science

200 pages, Hardcover

First published April 9, 2003

Reviews

[Kaila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a book with anecdotes about the Manhattan Project. You won't get any great stories to tell at a cocktail party. It is mostly about why and where the money goes, and why the Manhattan Project had a major effect on that. It can be powerful knowledge, but a bit dry to read as figures in the billions are trotted out to ask whether "Big Science" is worth it.

It was written in 2003 so might be a little out of date. I'm curious to know where science funding has gone in the past decade and whether Big Science is a term still in use, or if that way of doing science has become unfashionable, as this book certainly seems to want it to be.

[Stephen Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Save yourself some time and just read the last chapter. The author will sum up the entire book in one chapter. There were times in the book where he had pointed out really interesting things but then just ended the discussion. This book was more about "Big Science" and really limited on the history, or story of the atom bomb. If you are looking for a story told like the movie of Oppenheimer then you should find another book. If you are looking for a discussion on the political landscape of what "Big Science" is then this is your book.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quickly covers a lot of significant points on scientific discovery, nation-states, military/national security interests and organisations/funding. For those less familiar it does a good job of sparking interest in supercollider research. Particularly interesting was the perhaps unintended commentary on men, competition and complex decisions boiled down to the most basic desires for recognition and superiority.

[Dave Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so much a tale of the manhattan project itself, but a broader tale of how the project came about, following on from the birth of big science, and the increasing amounts of state sponsored money funding science, often in expectation of gaining advantages, both prestigious and military over rival powers, and the effects that this had for the rest of the 20th century, and beyond ...

[enderen · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a concise history of the Manhattan Project, you can pick out a few chapters from the middle of this book as a solid foundation for further reading.

The surrounding chapters attempt to frame the Manhattan project as a product of, and instrumental framework for, substantial changes to how science -- physics, in particular -- was conducted in the 20th century. I am not knowledgeable enough on the topic to speak to the level to which the book succeeds at this, but it seems to me that it is probably too large of a topic for this short read to do justice. At the very least it reads well enough to be worthwhile as a springboard for learning more about the philosophy/politics/economics of science.

It is perhaps interesting to highlight the larger emphasis placed on Groves' contributions to the Project relative to those of Oppenheimer, who appears to receive most of the credit.

[Pchu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The weird thing about this book is that some of the things that are only speculation are now faits accomplis. The best thing about this book is that is it a short, yet informative summary on the role the military and government played in high energy physics, and defines the concept of "Big Science".

[Liane · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of the only times in my life that I just returned a book to the library without finishing it. While the topic is interesting, the narrative was very boring and I wasn't really paying attention to what I was reading. So, I reasoned that life is short and it's time to move on.

[Karl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, brief review of the Manhattan Project. Overly simplistic and leaves out a lot, but it's super short and easy to read, so that is to be expected. If you want the minimal book experience in learning about the Manhattan Project this is for you.

[Kevin EVHS Ly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, brief review of the Manhattan Project. Overly simplistic and leaves out a lot, but it's super short and easy to read, so that is to be expected. I was kind of disappointed because it was a lot shorter review than I thought and it left out a decent amount of useful information out.

[John Devlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The gargantuan undertaking of not just the bomb, but the plutonium deriving demonstrates the awesome scope of Manhattan, the incredible geniuses, and the bureaucracy that was needed.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

started in 2004, got about halfway through, don't think I'll finish it - interesting topic, too boring with too many details

[Edward Fenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction and overview for non-physics folk.

[Elise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only read the first chapter.

[Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really a 2.5 rating. A good brief history of physics and the development of the atom bomb. This has the bones of the story bt you will have to look elsewhere to get the meat of the stories, especially the personalities of the people involved.