This was a wonderful biography, full of fascinating bits of information not only about Oppenheimer but just as much about the times he lived in. I've read quite a few books about that era, including another biography of Oppenheimer, and this one just stood out.
I would distinguish this biography from typical ones in three ways:
(1) There are long but fascinating digressions into other key people. The world of Manhattan in the 19th century is brilliantly limned, for example; Grove is discussed nicely; the milieu of Harvard is nicely drawn.
(2) There is a considerable detail about Oppenheimer. The author seems to have completely mastered his subject. Yet the stories are all carefully sourced and seem persuasive.
(3) The prose itself is elegant and well-written.
I had two complaints about the book, however.
First, I felt that the author took an unfairly supportive attitude towards Oppenheimer and an unfairly critical stance against his detractors in the matter of the security clearance. In hindsight, we know that Oppenheimer was blameless in the security leaks at the time, but given that he was certainly less than candid, to say the least, in the past; and given that the security leaks were of a distinctly dramatic nature, it is hardly unreasonable to expect security to err on the side of caution in the granting of a clearance. Although Monk lays out the facts for both sides, he is, perhaps understandably given his affection for such a brilliant and sympathetic man, somewhat uncharitable to those on the opposing side.
Second, for some reason I did find the last 20% of the book, after the security hearings, not that interesting, and I sort of skimmed over a lot of it.
Be that as it may, I really enjoyed this book, certainly one of the best few biographies I have ever read. My Kindle copy is full of notes and highlighting of interesting facts (I loved the way Oppenheimer didn't go back East at one point partly because he missed the great California wines!). I am a bit unclear, however, how any future authors who do a biography of anyone at all can meet the incredible standard of deep and broad research that Monk brought to this project.
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Top reviews from other countries
Mauro Lombardi
mancano delle pagine per un errore di stampa (la 31 è la 81 ripetuta)
Reviewed in Italy on September 3, 2022rektorjohn
Oppenheimer - Genius and Moral
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 4, 2013