Robert Oppenheimer A Life Inside the Center [Paperback]

An unforgettable story of discovery and unimaginable destruction and a major biography of one of America’s most brilliant—and most divisive—scientists,Robert Oppenheimer: A Life Inside the Centervividly illuminates the man who would go down in history as “the father of the atomic bomb.” Oppenheimer’s talent and drive secured him a place in the pantheon of great physicists and carried him to the laboratories where the secrets of the universe revealed themselves. But they also led him to contribute to the development of the deadliest weapon on earth, a discovery he soon came to fear. His attempts to resist the escalation of the Cold War arms race—coupled with political leanings at odds with post-war America—led many to question his loyalties, and brought down upon him the full force of McCarthyite anti-communism. Digging deeply into Oppenheimer’s past to solve the enigma of his motivations and his complex personality, Ray Monk uncovers the extraordinary, charming, tortured man—and the remarkable mind—who fundamentally reshaped the world.“Impressive. . . . An extraordinary story.”
—The New York Times Book Review

“Judicious, comprehensive and reliable. . . . By far the most thorough survey yet written of Oppenheimer’s physics. . . . A convincing portrait.”
—Washington Post

“Compelling.”
—The New Yorker

“Oppenheimer is fortunate to have been given such an exemplary biographer.”
—New Scientist

“Essential reading for Oppie enthusiasts, even those who don't know a meson from a cosmic ray (and don't much care).”
—Chicago Tribune

“[Robert Oppenheimer] feels suspiciously like the best biography I’ve ever read.”
—Bryan Appleyard,New Statesman

“A masterclass in how biography, l“…