Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

American Prometheus: The Triumph & Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin

19 reviews

brennach's review against another edition

challenging informative slow-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Homophobia, Antisemitism, and Death of parent

ammmiiiii's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

An account of the meteoric rise and subsequent fall from grace of the brilliant scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer. The author speaks to many people who knew him and uses a wide range of sources. 

My only criticism of this book would be that parts were heavily political (although I understand some explanation of politics is necessarily this was rather over the top) and that the book skims over the relevant physics which, if explained, would have given the reader a better grounding in the science of the atomic bomb and hence a fuller admiration for what was, and is, an incredible feat of science. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism and War

bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

5.0

A great read. captured some insights into a consequential mind. i found the context around science and the red scare. i especially found the end parts of Oppenheimer’s life interesting, since the Nolan movie did not cover them. a comprehensive story. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Alcohol

Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Antisemitism

Minor: Addiction, Death, Suicide, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War

bcvogel90's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Suicide

tzana's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative sad tense fast-paced

4.75

For a 800 page brick, I certainly didn't expect it to be so fast paced.

Also, seriously, who let this man get outside of his house, I was expecting war crimes, not tomfoolery and clowning beyond human comprehension 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, and War

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Car accident, and Pregnancy

Just in case you don't know who the book's about, yes, there's crimes against humanity in there.

billievee's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

If you thought the Oppenheimer movie was too short, this is the book for you!

...That sounds sarcastic, but I kinda mean it. I went into last year's Oppenheimer knowing almost nothing about the famous scientist, and it breezed through so much history in its 3 hour runtime that I found it hard to follow. This book, on the other hand, is extremely detailed about every aspect of Oppenheimer's life, and by the end it feels like he was someone who you knew well: a complex genius with some very human flaws. It's a long read, but worthwhile.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Genocide, Racism, Suicide, Antisemitism, and War

Minor: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

issyd23's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

Worth the effort! 4🤠 

“Modern Prometheans have raided Mount Olympus again & have brought back for man the very thunderbolts of Zeus.” Scientific Monthly

Imagine having one of the greatest minds of the 20th century & the first 4 chapters of your biography is about how much of a loser you were at school/uni, how little you had sex & how you had 0 friends & low key tried to kill yourself & your professor.

Thankfully Oppie’s neuroses ‘subsided during middle age’ & he went on to have many affairs, friends & lead the Manhattan project & other groundbreaking discoveries. 

Jokes aside this biography is incredible: the best I’ve read & well worth the slog if you’re a fan of the film! 

It was so great reading the backstories of Jean Tatlock, Kitty, Isi Rabi & other fascinating people (I now finally understand what happened with Haakon Chevalier).

My eBook was so filled with highlights it started lagging. 

Bird & Sherwin’s attention to detail & research is considerable. Take a bow! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria, War, and Classism

jennneely82's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

This was a beast of an audiobook, 26 hours, but it was an amazing listen. Chemistry, physics, atomic bombs, New Mexico, politics, government and their conspiracies, FBI, parties, and debauchery are just a few of the themes in this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Cancer

Moderate: Death, Suicide, and War

grace_b_3's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

Like many others, I picked this up because of the Oppenheimer movie, which I quite liked. Obviously, the book is different from the movie, but I found both worth the time I put into them. 
This is a really well-done biography; I totally understand why this received the Pulitzer. There is so much material to pull from when it comes to Oppenheimer’s life, as there are reams of government papers on him. The authors also conducted extensive interviews with those who knew him. 
The picture of Oppenheimer that emerges is that of a complicated man. While he himself is interesting, I also enjoyed learning more about US history through the lens of his life—especially in regards to US atomic policy. Overall, this was an excellent read if you are in the mood for something dense and thought-provoking. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, and Antisemitism

Minor: Racism, Sexual content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

abicaro17's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

This book is incredibly slow and reads like a textbook but I think it's important to read. It brings an insight I don't think is readily taught about the Cold War and atomic energy dealings after the Trinity test. I would be the first to say i'm not normally interested in biographies but this account is so interesting and insightful it counteracts that. If readers can get past the slow and methodical accounts then they'll be pleasantly surprised by how invigorating the whole story is. (Also for those who saw Oppenheimer and are wondering if this is as entertaining: it's better!) 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation