Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon Author: | Language: English | ISBN:
B00ATSSARI | Format: EPUB
Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon Description
In December of 1938, a chemist in a German laboratory made a shocking discovery: When placed next to radioactive material, a Uranium atom split in two. That simple discovery launched a scientific race that spanned three continents. In Great Britain and the United States, Soviet spies worked their way into the scientific community; in Norway, a commando force slipped behind enemy lines to attack German heavy-water manufacturing; and deep in the desert, one brilliant group of scientists was hidden away at a remote site at Los Alamos.
This is the story of the plotting, the risk-taking, the deceit, and genius that created the world's most formidable weapon. This is the story of the atomic bomb.
Bomb was a 2012 National Book Awards finalist for Young People's Literature.
- Audible Audio Edition
- Listening Length: 7 hours and 11 minutes
- Program Type: Audiobook
- Version: Unabridged
- Publisher: Listening Library
- Audible.com Release Date: January 8, 2013
- Whispersync for Voice: Ready
- Language: English
- ASIN: B00ATSSARI
While this is a book aimed at the teenage market, it is an excellent overview worthy of adult readership. Not all of us have the time to wade through 700-page tomes like Kai Bird's "American Prometheus" (about Oppenheimer), Richard Rhodes "The Making of the Atom Bomb," or Gen. Leslie Groves' "Now It Can Be Told."
The race to build the first atom bomb involves several stories: the Los Alamos scientists, the Soviet spies stealing our secrets, and the Norwegian saboteurs stopping the Germans. I have read several books about each of these stories; this is the first book that ties them all together. It is well-written, and reads like a thriller in the way it flips from one threadline to another, keeping you turn the page. My only quibble is that the footnotes do not give the page number of the source, but then this is a book for the general reader, not for historians like myself. It is an introduction to an important and fascinating topic, and it does the job well. After you read this book, you may well want to read more.
If I make may an unusual compliment: even though I am very familiar with what this book talks about, I wasn't in the least bit impatient as I read this book. A joy to read.
By Seymour Morris Jr
Bomb is a fantastic read. I am a voracious reader, and was concerned that a non fiction, young aduilt book would not be emjoyable. Wow, was I wrong. Bomb is a fantastic literary review of the 'cool' part of world history. Everyone learns about World War 2 in school. Yet I was never privy to the amount of espionage that went on surrounding the development of the worlds most devastating weapon. This book provides a behind the scenes view of the prelude to the cold war. Overall a very enjoyable read. I highly reco
mend!!
By SarahD
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