The Ultimate Weapon: The Race to Develop the Atomic Bomb

by Edward T. Sullivan

When the first atomic bomb, nicknamed "Little Boy," was dropped from the Enola Gay onto Hiroshima on the morning of August 6, 1945, the world changed forever. But the story started long before then, and here Edward T. Sullivan delves into all the advances that led to the making of the most destructive weapons ever the scientific developments of the Manhattan Project, the massive commitment by the Western world to win the great nuclear arms race, and the contributions to the war effort big or small by all those involved. From bus driver to scientist to spy to the president, Sullivan examines all the key personalities concerned, including Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, President Roosevelt, and many more. The dropping of the bomb, as well as the complicated aftermath is also discussed. In this comprehensive book, featuring several arresting black-and-white photographs of the day, Sullivan offers a broad and compelling look at the atomic bomb and its pronounced effects on our world today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, History, World War II, War

208 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2007

About the author

My life is mostly bibliocentric. I am originally from New Jersey. I moved to Memphis in 1991 to attend graduate school. In my professional life I have taught high school English, undergraduate courses in composition and literature, graduate courses in children's and young adult literature, and worked as a librarian in public, school, and special libraries. I presently work for a nonprofit ad teach college English. I have an extensive collection of Chuck Taylor high top sneakers of various colors and I also collect PEZ dispensers. I live with my wife and four cats in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Reviews

[BEAR LESLIE]

I think it was really good for me to learn about the old wars and a atomic bombs

[Hillary Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I selected this book, The Ultimate Weapon: The Race to Develop the Atomic Bomb by Edward T. Sullivan, as one of my informational book selections. This particular non-fiction book was the 2008 Jefferson Cup Award Winner. I was amazed at the attraction I had to the perverse actions and occurrences uncovered in the writing. A direct recall of history.

The astonishment is unimaginable as you read to uncover the truths behind the most organized and stunning crimes in history. Sullivan writing is so intriguing it’s as if the reader is watching a documentary film page-by-page. The knowledge and passion of the author lifts off the page as he shares background knowledge and history of devious plots against supremacy. The book is well organized to show the relationship between real events and the inconceivable deception of wicked actions. Each chapter exposing a new “Ultimate Weapon” whether it is a spy, bomb or dangerous science.

As you read, there are photographed pictures displayed to add emphasis and emotions to the story being told. One cannot help but to be captivated by the profane allegations of deceit. The journey begins with the tale of the first atomic bomb “Little Boy” being dropped from Enola Gay onto Hiroshima on the morning of August 6, 1945. Sullivan is precise in providing detail to unveil how this event changed the world forever sharing conspiracies and preparation to such a horrendous event. I would highly recommend this book as a non-fiction reading selection.

[Miguel Moreno · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ultimate Weapon book is a great informational book that had and gave great information about the creation of the the atomic bomb. The Ultimate Weapon give details not just about building the bomb but the scientist and workers who worked on it and how they lived and how the bomb changed their lives. This book talks about each country had a lot of secrecy and spies going around. It had all the details the about the USA and how the tests went and all of the fails and trouble they had to go through. The details in this book makes you think you were apart of the secret project.

I would recommend this book to social study teacher that want to teach their students about the processes it took to built the atomic bomb. I would also recommend this book to students who want know more about the bombs or that have a paper in a class they have to do because this book has all the information you’ll probably need for the project or paper they need to right.

I really like this book because of the great details it had. I’d really wish I knew about this book when I was in middle school because it would've really helped me with many of my projects. I also like it because it gave me information about the bomb that I didn’t know but wanted to know. It showed me about the living condition of the workers and how they had their own town they lived in. I really like it and I hope the people who read this will really like and find it helpful.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Ultimate Weapon: The Race to Develop the Atomic Bomb' is about just that. Developing, creation, and deployment of the first Atomic bombs ever made, and used. The book starts off with the reasons of entering WWII. After joining the war, America finds out about Germany's project fro the Atomic bomb. The U.S.A. responds to that by starting the Manhattan Project. The American Project works hard day-in and day-out to create an atomic weapon. All the while, secluded from the rest of the world and secured from spies. Most of the workers didn't even know what they were working on. The atom bomb in it's first form 'The Gadget' is then created and dropped at the test site 'Trinity'. The first atomic weapon ever used. The war with Germany ends with the weapon, and America sets the crosshairs on Japan. American forces are close enough to seize the mainland, yet at heavy losses. So the Japanese are issued a treaty to surrender or the bomb will be used. As history goes the Japanese refuse surrender and the Uranium bomb is used on Hiroshima. Next the plutonium is used on Nagasaki. After the bombs, the Japanese surrender. Ending WWII, yet bringing in the nuclear arms race.

This book from any standpoint was amazing. It had good flow, excellent information, and pictures to boot. Precise details were splashed in on every page that absorb you into the information packed pages. Just plain amazing. The book takes almost no standpoint, yet you know it's more dedicated to the American knowledge seeker. It may be history, but the way it's put (chronologically that is) gives it a great flow. Sort of like history.

I rate this book a 5 out of 5 because as fore-stated, it's amazing. Truthful history complete with 'not politically correct' topics, as it should be. On the flip side, this would not be a good book for somebody without advanced historical knowledge. Or somebody who doesn't like informational books. All in all, a great read for the knowledge enriched American reader.

[Austin Bachtel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ultimate Weapon by Edward T. Sullivan was a very informational and interesting book. It is about World War 2’s nuclear weapons race. This book gives a lot of details on what the United States did to become the first country to make and use a nuclear bomb on another country. The book talks about how each country in the war were developing their own Nuclear projects and the problem each country had with it. The book also talked about the process the United States had to go through to test and find the right cities to drop the bombs on.

This is a good book for young adults wanting to learn more about the race for nuclear bombs. It would also be a good resource for a class paper that is related to WW2 or nuclear bombs. “The Ultimate Weapon” is an easy and quick book to read. The only hard thing is to keep track of the different test sites and all the scientist names.

I liked this book because my grandpa was a fighter in WW2 and this showed what life was like at that time and what the U.S. had to go through. Sullivan did a good job of giving lots of details and explaining what was going on. I wish “The Ultimate Weapon would have had more pictures to show what the author was trying to show and maps of the sites. I encourage all young adult that like history to read this book.

[Bryan]

The book The Ultimate Weapon - The Race to Develop the Atomic Bomb (182 pages long)by Edward T. Sullivan investigates the massive planning used to ultimately develop the weapon that would change the future of warfare forever - the atomic bomb. He perfectly explains that a variety of other nations particicpating in the second world war half also attempted - nearly successful - to develop a weapon of mass destruction of this sort. Sullivan goes into different aspects of living a daily life in one of the various sites of the Manhattan Project. Then he further goes by illustrating the thoughts of a number of men that simply worked there up to men that played a significant role in this tremendous project. If you might have ever wondered why the huge self-sustaining project sites never were revealed to the public before the bombs were dropped, Sullivan explains how and why it never did. This book is great for anyone interested in the Manhattan Project or the history of nuclear weapons.

[Sue Poduska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward T. Sullivan’s account of the development of nuclear weapons during WWII is well thought out and comprehensive. The book is never dry, with little tidbits provided such as the frisking of Santa Claus due to heavy security and giving the word implosion a secret classification. The volume would be useful as a historic reference, since the author provides an ample amount of bibliographic material. The political and moral debate which still surrounds the use of the bomb is treated with sensitivity, with all sides presented.

[Raymond Bial · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book.

[Marge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written for a YA audience - gives a basic idea of the project.