Reviews with content warning for Suicide - Robert Oppenheimer: Triomphe et tragédie d'un génie

Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Robert Oppenheimer: Triomphe et tragédie d'un génie by Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin

23 reviews

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

rowy148's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging informative mysterious sad tense slow-paced

4.0

Content Warnings

abicaro17's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

caidyn's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative slow-paced

4.25

An excellent, well researched book. I've never read up on Oppenheimer before, but this is the book to do it. It's comprehensive and rather unbiased in its look at him.

Content Warnings

wifescullys's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Very crazy. Written in a way that speaks to a Shakespearean ugly little comedy even with all the dense information packed in. Awaiting the panel's judgement, Kitty and him spent hours in front of the black-and-white television set, his reaction to Kennedy being shot, his difficulty with connecting with his children; every detail helped make up the landscape of the 50s in a way that caught attention and held it. Very sad but appropriate ending, w/ the idea of Toni's unfittedness in the world another consequence of Oppenheimer's climbing to greatness, what you leave behind, and also Oppenheimer's illness and physical failing and fragility of his body and the attitude surrounding it reminded me a lot of Humphrey Bogart's own (alcoholism , too, much more)—leaving me with a great deal of sadness. A lot said about ambiguity and the failing/stupidity of trying to chalk everything up to black or white. Finally, as Oppenheimer's son put it, Strauss is rotting in hell.

Content Warnings