# Good Reads on the Manhattan Project? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 19, 2013, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326 "2013-03-19T03:04:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326/1 "2013-03-19T03:04:32Z")
Can the SD recommend “must reads” about (a) the science behind the making of the atomic bomb, perhaps as told by Oppenheimer (or his peers), OR (b) a historical documentary of the Manhattan Project in general…whatever makes for a good read? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326/2 "2013-03-19T03:36:50Z")
One can hardly go wrong with Richard Rhodes’ _The Making of the Atomic Bomb_ (Manhattan Project) and _Dark Sun_ (development of fusion weapons). ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326/3 "2013-03-19T04:05:45Z")
The classic nuke documentary is _Trinity and Beyond_, though it’s more of an overview of the first 30 or so years of the nuclear program. I also suggest Richard Feynmann’s _Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynmann_. It’s not about the project, it’s more of an autobiography, but as he was recruited for Los Alamos, he spends a good portion of the book on his experiences there. Also, it’s the funniest book by a scientist you’ll ever read. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326/4 "2013-03-19T05:36:27Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > One can hardly go wrong with Richard Rhodes’ _The Making of the Atomic Bomb_ (Manhattan Project) and _Dark Sun_ (development of fusion weapons). I second these. And I’d add _Atomic: The First War of Physics and the Secret History of the Atom Bomb, 1939-1949_ by Jim Baggott. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326/5 "2013-03-19T12:44:35Z")
Since we’re chatting books here, I’m moving this to Cafe Society from IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![GythaOgg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@GythaOgg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GythaOgg)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326/6 "2013-03-19T13:47:38Z")
This is one of my historical obsessions, and I’ve got a bookshelf full of atomic history books. Two of the best in recent years are ‘109 East Palace’ by Jennet Conant (a heavy focus on Los Alamos in particular, but it also talks about the project in general) and ‘Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima’ by Stephen Walker. The books by Rhodes go without saying - they are the ‘must read’ books on the subject. There are a few older books that are also good, but they are out of print and hard to find. Even so, if your library has them, I suggest also ‘Day One’ by Peter Wyden and ‘No High Ground’ by Fletcher Knebel. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326/7 "2013-03-19T13:53:37Z")
I’d third Rhodes’s books. Unlikely they will ever be exceeded as complete, readable histories of the two projects. (Added to. yes. But I’d regard them as the primers for the topic.) ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326/8 "2013-03-20T02:47:00Z")
If you want to watch a docudrama about it instead, steer clear of the Paul Newman film _Fat Man and Little Boy_. It has its moments, but it glosses over way too much, and Newman couldn’t keep his commie-pinko politics out of his portrayal of Gen Groves. Instead watch the superlative CBS TV movie from over 20 years ago, [_ **Day One** _](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxcAqvfPvSI). Stars Brian Dennehy as Groves, David Strathairn as Oppenheimer, and Michael Tucker (from LA Law) as Leo Lizard. Phenomenal film! Detailed, very accurate, and entertaining! ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326/9 "2013-03-21T02:20:23Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Also, it’s the funniest book by a scientist you’ll ever read. Um-uh… ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326/10 "2013-03-21T02:28:00Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Um-uh… What is that supposed to mean? Have you read it? Do you disagree? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326/11 "2013-03-21T02:42:42Z")
If you’re working on the Manhattan Project I don’t think you’re going to have very much time for reading… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326/12 "2013-03-21T03:00:16Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > If you’re working on the Manhattan Project I don’t think you’re going to have very much time for reading… Why not? All the hard work’s been done. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326/13 "2013-03-25T13:06:14Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > What is that supposed to mean? Have you read it? Do you disagree? Please undo the underwearing bunching. Please note the adjective ‘funny’ and noun ‘scientist’ of the part that I quoted, and then re-read the entirety of my post. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-reads-on-the-manhattan-project/653326/14 "2013-03-25T13:52:54Z")
> [@GythaOgg](#): > > This is one of my historical obsessions, and I’ve got a bookshelf full of atomic history books. Two of the best in recent years are ‘109 East Palace’ by Jennet Conant (a heavy focus on Los Alamos in particular, but it also talks about the project in general) and ‘Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima’ by Stephen Walker. The books by Rhodes go without saying - they are the ‘must read’ books on the subject. I came in here to recommend “109 East Palace.” I had next to no interest in this subject, but happened to be in Santa Fe and the rental we were staying in had a copy of this book on the coffee table. I picked it up and read it all within a couple days. Great read, and really piqued my interest in the subject. I was able to go visit Los Alamos soon after, and having read the book really made it all come to life.