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Aaron Gantt
HIST 4000-A01
2 July, 2008
Annotated Bibliography
Bird, Kai, and Martin
Sherwin. American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert
Oppenheimer. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005.
Bird and Shewin
present a detailed and in depth look into the life of the man who is often
regarded as the father of the atomic bomb. Many biographies of Oppenheimer
focus primarily on his work on the Manhattan Project, where as American
Prometheus looks past his years as the scientific head of Los Alamos.
American Prometheus also present a very informative look at the
relationship between Oppenheimer and General Groves. The book describes
their relationship, their differing personalities, how they interacted, and
how they got the job done.
Conant, Jennet. 109
East Palace: Robert Oppenheimer and the Secret City of Los Alamos. New
York: Simon & Schuster, 2005.
Conant, the
granddaughter of James B. Conant, tells the personal stories of the men and
women who lived and worked at Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project. The
book is told from the perspective of Dorothy McKibben, often regarded as the
“gatekeeper” of Los Alamos. Conant provides detailed descriptions of the
relationship between Oppenheimer and Groves as well. The book provides a
wealth of information on how Oppenheimer was chosen to head the Los Alamos
laboratories, as well as a personal look at both Oppenheimer and Groves and
what kind of people these two men were.
Groueff, Stephane.
Manhattan Project: The Untold Story of the Making of the Atomic Bomb.
Nebraska: iUniverse.com, Inc., 2000.
Groueff’s book is a
personal story of the men who built the atomic bomb when all that mattered
was beating Germany to the weapon and ending World War II. It chronicles
the Manhattan Project for a non-technical point of view as to provide a more
relatable and historical record of the monumental event. It also examines
the involvement that Oppenheimer had in the Los Alamos Laboratory as well as
the idea of whether or not to militarize the lab; a decision that was
ultimately left up to General Groves.
Groves, Leslie R.
Now It Can Be Told: The story of the Manhattan Project. New York:
Harper, 1062.
This book present’s
General Groves’s own personal story of the Manhattan Project told from his
perspective. It looks at the many aspects of the building of the bomb,
including the commissioning of Oppenheimer and the first tests of the atomic
bomb. In the book, Groves also reminisces his decision to bring Oppenheimer
on board for the project. He also recalls the character of Oppenheimer and
the difficulties he was facing being the only scientist under consideration
for the project who had not won a Nobel Prize.
Hawkins, David, Edith
C. Truslow, and Ralph Carlisle Smith. Project Y: The Los Alamos Story.
Part I: Toward Trinity. Part II: Beyond Trinity. (The History of Modern
Physics, 1800 – 1950: Volume II). Los Angeles: Tomash Publishers, 1983.
The
authors of this particular work provide a strictly scientific approach to
the subject of the Manhattan Project. This unfortunately leaves the reader
having to deal with a lot of textbook-like jargon that can confuse and
frustrate, but the amount of information that is provided about the Lost
Alamos story is quite impressive. One issue that was raised by the book was
the topic of censorship at Los Alamos and the cooperation between Groves and
Oppenheimer that took place in order to solve the issue. The book also
speaks of the specific involvement of Groves and Oppenheimer in the
Manhattan Project and the kinds of duties that each man had.
Hijiya, James A. “The
Gita of J. Robert Oppenheimer.” Proceedings of the American
Philosophical Society Vol. 50, no. 2 (June 2000): 123 – 167.
Hijiya’s article takes
a look at the philosophical aspects of Oppenheimer’s decision to take part
in the building of the atomic bomb. Hijiya includes a great deal of insight
into the personal side of Oppenheimer without becoming too laborious with
its technical terms. While the article focuses primarily on Oppenheimer’s
own personal philosophy, there is also a great deal of historical
information about the man as well. Hijiya examines Oppenheimer’s
involvement in the Manhattan Project from both a philosophical and a
historical perspective as well, providing a more encompassing look at the
“father of the atomic bomb” than the typical textbook.
Kelly, Cynthia C.
The Manhattan Project: The Birth of the Atomic Bomb in the Words of Its
Creators, Eyewitnesses, and Historians. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal
Publishes, Inc., 2007.
Kelly’s book is
somewhat of a definitive source for the Manhattan Project. In her
manuscript, she examines the building of the bomb from start to finish,
bringing in other historical writings, letters, documents, memoirs, and
newspaper articles to provide her readers with a wealth of information on
the scientific and the personal aspects of the United States’s mission to
build the bomb. Kelly’s research covers a number of books and other
articles that provide detailed information on the relationship between
Oppenheimer and Groves and how the two men worked together in building the
atomic bomb. Her work also provides a number of further resources that are
essential when exploring the history of the Manhattan Project.
Lawren, William.
The General and the Bomb. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1988.
Lawren’s of General
Groves provides a unique and personal look at the life of the military
leader of the Manhattan Project. While his writing style is at times
awkward, the information he provides is irreplaceable when he examines
Groves’s character, abilities, personal life, and relationship with
Oppenheimer. Lawren provides his readers with a detailed look into the
interactions between Groves and Oppenheimer and how the two men worked
together. It is thanks to Lawren’s book that there should be no mystery as
to why these two men worked together so well despite their differences.
Mason, Richard.
Oppenheimer’s Choice: Reflections from Moral Philosophy. Albany: State
University of New York Press, 2006.
In his book, Mason
uses Oppenheimer’s choice to accept the position of scientific leader of the
Manhattan Project to examine the overall philosophical concept of
responsibility and the need for morality. In addition to his philosophical
escapades throughout his book, Mason also provides some interesting research
into the life of Oppenheimer and the decisions he made at Los Alamos during
those crucial years before the end of World War II. Mason also gives
insight into the thinking that went behind Oppenheimer as well as Groves
during the crucial decision-making processes of the Manhattan Project.
Nichols, Kenneth D.
The Road to Trinity. New York: William Morrow, 1987.
Nichols provides a
part-autobiography and part-memoirs that recall his involvement in the
Manhattan Project. Nichols was closely involved with General Groves and
Robert Oppenheimer during the production of the bomb at Oak Ridge. Nichols
provides some personal insight into the characters of Groves and Oppenheimer
and what kind of men they were. One quote in particular recalls Nichols’s
very descriptive account of the kind of man Groves was.
Norris, Robert S.
Racing for the Bomb: General Leslie R. Groves, The Manhattan Project’s
Indispensable Man. Vermont: Steerforth Press, 2001.
Norris focuses his
recount of the Manhattan Project on General Groves, from his earlier
military career, up through his involvement in the atomic bomb program.
Norris provides a very detailed and personal description of Groves as a
person and as a general. He describes the General’s character, attitude,
and involvement with Oppenheimer during the bomb project. Norris also
provides some interesting historiographical information to further clear up
the debate surrounding Groves’s involvement in the Manhattan Project.
Walker,
J. Samuel. “Recent Literature on Truman’s Atomic Bomb Decision: A Search for
Middle Ground.” Diplomatic History Vol. 29, no. 2 (April 2005): 311 – 334.
In his
article, Walker presents an examination of the historiographical dispute
over Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan at the end of World
War II. While presenting and critiquing both sides of the issue, Walker
provides a more balanced and levelheaded look at the historiographical
argument that has entangled historians over the last forty years. His
arguments are less sensational and are intended to uncover the truth rather
than prove one side and ignore evidence for the opposing view.
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