J. Robert Oppenheimer: A Life by the late Abraham Pais (PDF)

Description

The late Abraham Pais, author of the award winning biography of Albert Einstein, Subtle is the Lord, here offers an illuminating portrait of another of his eminent colleagues, J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the most charismatic and enigmatic figures of modern physics.Pais introduces us to a precocious youth who sped through Harvard in three years, made signal contributions to quantum mechanics while in his twenties, and was instrumental in the growth of American physics in the decade before the Second World War, almost single-handedly bringing it to a state of prominence. He paints a revealing portrait of Oppenheimer’s life in Los Alamos, where in twenty remarkable, feverish months, and under his inspired guidance, the first atomic bomb was designed and built, a success that made Oppenheimer America’s most famous scientist. Pais describes Oppenheimer’s long tenure as Director of the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton, where the two men worked together closely. He shows not only Oppenheimer’s brilliance and leadership, but also how his displays of intensity and arrogance won him powerful enemies, ones who would ultimately make him one of the principal victims of the Red Scare of the 1950s.J. Robert Oppenheimer is Abraham Pais’s final work, completed after his death by Robert P. Crease, an acclaimed historian of science in his own right. Told with compassion and deep insight, it is the most comprehensive biography of the great physicist available. Anyone seeking an insider’s portrait of this enigmatic man will find it indispensable.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐On the positive side this well-written biography presents a lot of detail about J. Robert Oppenheimer’s work on the development of the first atomic weapon. It described his struggles as the leader of the scientific team at the Los Alamos laboratory and then later of the Director of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University. The biography also covers in great detail the hearing to decide whether or not to renew his security clearance to work on nuclear science as a consultant for the U.S. Government.I think what this biography lacked was a more personal psychological evaluation of Oppenheimer. Why did Oppenheimer form so few friendships? Why did he treat his employees with such contempt at times? Why did he at times brandish a superior attitude towards colleagues? What from his childhood molded his view of life? This book touches briefly on these questions, but it does not really go deep enough to determine the root causes of these attitudes.I think the book did a good job highlighting the angst felt by Oppenheimer and the other scientists over the destructive potential of nuclear weapons. While they were patriotic and served their country well, they also saw that nuclear weapons had the potential to destroy the human race. Oppenheimer’s famous quote shows how he felt about the bomb: “We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried. Most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita; Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and, to impress him, takes on his multi-armed form and says, ‘Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.’ I suppose we all thought that, one way or another.”I found this biography an interesting read. It did have a tendency in places to get mired down in details that slowed the pace of the story, but I think the interesting parts of the book made up for the less interesting parts. I would agree with another reviewer who wrote: “If you want to know more about Oppenheimer’s life before and during the war, look to other books. If you want some insight into his later life and into the depth of his character, this is the best book I have found.” I would agree with that assessment. This book will help the reader appreciate Oppenheimer’s work ethic, patriotism and his leadership. Oppenheimer in the end was a team player and believed it was not about him, but about “us”. I think that’s what drove him in his work life.

⭐I had trouble putting this book down. The history was just great. I now understand the scientific world has snobs and intellectual jealously just like other field of study. The politics of the “bomb” was a real eye-opener for me. I don’t know why I am surprised about it with a Presidential election upcoming, I guess I was just not aware of it before now. As a former chemistry/physics teacher, my background allowed a better understanding of the people who sacrificed so much doing the work they did. I am too young to remember all the turbulent times of the early forties, but I remember reading the newspaper and listening to my Dad in the fifties about the “awful” acts being accredited to Oppenheimer and many of his colleagues. The background the book offered me was tremendous! I am not surprised, but I am saddened at the events that smeared a brilliant scientist. He did not deserve such press after sacrificing so much for the country.The book made so many of the discoveries made during this time more real for me. There are many people referred to in the book that I taught their theories and discoveries when I was a teacher in the sixties and seventies!

⭐As some previous reviewer said, it is really the preparation for a book that was published after Mr. Pais’ death so it is more like scraps of information with not much cohesion between them. There is a big difference between the first part and the last chapters written by Mr. Robert P. Crease in which there is a continuous story.There are also big areas of Mr. Oppenheimer’s life that are missing such as all his work at Los Alamos where other biographies indicate that he was a “different” man in his character and in his post, becoming a manager much more than a researcher.I also find that Mr. Pais comes into the story so many times and with so many opinions that the book becomes a little biography of himself.I consider that the book “J. Robert Oppenheimer Shterer of Worlds” gives a much better and more complete view of the man although there is a lacking of his science.

⭐Abraham Pais has written an excellent biography of Robert J. Oppenheimer. Pais extensively researched the topics and provides references throughout the text. I knew a bit of the history surrounding Oppenheimer from other books I had read including Rhodes’ book and other books on the Manhattan Project. What separates Pais’ text from the others is that Pais was both a colleague, coworker, and sometime friend of Oppenheimer. This first person experience is what sets books apart. If you want the personal story behind the thoughts of the father of the atomic bomb and his trials, tribulations, angst, etc., this is the book to read. There is very little technical details which will make the book easy for the non-physicist.

⭐I have read Prof. Pais’ Subtle is the Lord. Biography of Einstein. I expected the same treatment but find it rather loosely written, giving somewhat more importance to himself too! The atom bomb years are not well covered, as he says he wasn’t there. But then Biographer doesn’t have to be present where his subject is.Still, overall, interesting due to Oppie’s own personality and charm. Worth reading for those who have not read any other biography and all students of science.Prakash.

⭐Easy to read. Not too technical. A good impression of a complex man who was seriously let down. Goes from start to finish in a logical way which makes for a good flow. I was very satisfied.

⭐Brilliant book and a great read also came very quick thank you ******

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