The First War of Physics by Jim Baggott

Cafe Society
1

I’m looking to buy a book, The First War of Physics: The Secret History of the Atomic Bomb, 1939-1949 by Jim Baggott. Amazon is selling a hardcover edition that was just published this month.

But Amazon also lists a paperback titled Atomic: The First War of Physics and the Secret History of the Atom Bomb 1939 -1949 by Jim Baggott, which was published last year.

Now based on the titles alone, I’d assume these are the same book. In which case, I’d buy the paperback edition. But it’s very unusual for a book to be reprinted in hardcover after being released in paperback so I’m wondering if maybe the hardcover is an expanded revision of the earlier book.

Unfortunately, neither book has an excerpt available on Amazon and there’s no information about the publication history.

Does anyone have this book? Or does anyone have an idea how I can find out if the two editions are the same?

2

It was first published here in the UK last year (?) with the title Atomic and it’s currently out in paperback here under that name. A US publisher having picked it up, they’re releasing it with the title The First War of Physics.

No, I haven’t read it - but then I’m probably not the reader Baggott was aiming at.

3

Thanks, bonzer, I had forgotten the possibility of a non-American publication.

4

It appears that the paperback version has confused Amazon by using the name J E Baggett instead of James Baggett. Feel free to buy the paperback version with Baggett as author.

5

When I went back and checked more thoroughly, I saw that the paperback editions on sale were being offered by British sellers.