Aditya आदित्य’s Reviews > American Prometheus > Status Update

The bomb created under his supervision was a cornerstone for humanity: diplomacy and geopolitics, science and philosophy, the limits of human endeavour were forever transcended. Simultaneously the change in Oppenheimer was equally drastic albeit at a much smaller scale. Its as if his own personality was a microcosm of the effects of his ungodly creation. But the diabolical decisions of USA still take centre stage.

Arriving at Los Alamos through a tempestuous adolescence, radical political activity, several girlfriends and a lot of groundbreaking physics, the book does attempt to present many facets of it’s subject’s life but is ultimately a sympathetic account, or perhaps, the good doctor was such a personality that remains untouched by the upheavals surrounding it.

Precociousness engenders varied emotions in those who encounter it. Most are mightily amused by it, some are impressed, some might get jealous, others a bit frightened even. But never ever is anyone unaffected by a child too intelligent for his age. In the case of Oppenheimer, great intellectual potential was coincident with immense material privilege. It could conveniently be said that his greatness was guaranteed.