What will you learn from this book
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Early Life and Education: Expect insights into Oppenheimer's early life, upbringing, and educational background, including his formative years and academic pursuits.
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Scientific Career: The book likely details Oppenheimer's contributions to theoretical physics and his career milestones, shedding light on his research and achievements.
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Manhattan Project: Explore Oppenheimer's role in the Manhattan Project, the secret wartime project that led to the development of the atomic bomb. The book may discuss his leadership, challenges faced, and the ethical considerations surrounding the project.
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Interactions with Peers: Expect information about Oppenheimer's relationships and collaborations with other prominent scientists of his time. This could include discussions about his interactions with physicists, government officials, and colleagues.
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Personal Life: Biographies often provide a glimpse into the personal life of the subject. Look for details about Oppenheimer's relationships, family life, and personal struggles.
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Intellectual and Philosophical Views: The book may delve into Oppenheimer's intellectual and philosophical views, exploring his thoughts on science, politics, and the ethical implications of scientific advancements.
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Post-War Period: Explore Oppenheimer's life and career after the conclusion of World War II, including his involvement in post-war scientific and political activities.
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Struggles and Controversies: Biographies often address the challenges and controversies faced by the subject. In Oppenheimer's case, this may include discussions on his security clearance controversy and the impact on his career.
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Legacy: The book may reflect on Oppenheimer's lasting legacy in science, his influence on subsequent generations of physicists, and his impact on the world.
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Ethical Dilemmas: Given the nature of Oppenheimer's work on the atomic bomb, the biography may explore the ethical dilemmas he faced and his reflections on the consequences of his contributions.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10 | 0195327128 |
| ISBN-13 | 9780195166736 |
| No of pages | 380 |
| Font Size | Medium |
| Book Publisher | OUP USA |
| Published Date | 12 May 2006 |
About Author
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The late Abraham Pais wrote the definitive biography of Albert Einstein, "Subtle is the Lord" which won an American Book Award. As a distinguished physicist and Einstein's colleague, Pais combined a sophisticated understanding of physics with first-hand knowledge of this notoriously private individual, offering rare insights into both. It is his unique double perspective that makes his work so valuable. Now Abraham Pais offers an illuminating portrait of another eminent colleague, J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the most charismatic and enigmatic figures of modern physics.
Pais introduces us to a precocious youth who sped through Harvard in three years, made signal contributions to quantum mechanics while in his twenties, and was instrumental in the growth of American physics in the decade before the Second World War, almost single-handedly putting American physics on the map. Pais paints a revealing portrait of Oppenheimer's life in Los Alamos, where in twenty remarkable, feverish months, under his inspired leadership, the first atomic bomb was designed and built, a success that made Oppenheimer America's most famous scientist. Pais, who was his next-door neighbor for many years, describes Oppenheimer's long tenure as Director of the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton, but also shows how Oppenheimer's intensity and arrogance won him powerful enemies, who would ultimately make him one of the principal victims of the Red Scare of the 1950s.
Told with compassion and deep insight, J. Robert Oppenheimer is the most comprehensive biography of the great physicist available. It is Abraham Pais's final work, completed after his death by Robert P. Crease, an acclaimed historian of science in his own right.