Uncommon Sense

By J Robert Oppenheimer,

Book cover of Uncommon Sense

Book description

J. Robert Oppenheimer, a leading physicist in the Manhattan Project, recognized that scientific inquiry and discovery could no longer be separated from their effect on political decision-making, social responsibility, and human endeavor in general. He openly addressed issues of common concern and as a scientist accepted the responsibility brought about…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Uncommon Sense as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This is a collection of Oppenheimer’s essays and speeches, a good thing to read to get a sense of the man himself, how he thinks, how he handles language.

How he struggles to suggest how civilization might begin to cope with the reality that new weapons now exist capable of annihilating civilization... “unless we show,” he says, ”urged by our own example and conviction, that we regard nuclear armament as a transitory, dangerous and degrading phase of the world’s history.”

He said that forty years ago, and counting.

From Shirley's list on the race to build the first atomic bomb.

Want books like Uncommon Sense?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 85 books like Uncommon Sense.

Browse books like Uncommon Sense

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in nuclear weapons, the Manhattan Project, and Manhattan?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about nuclear weapons, the Manhattan Project, and Manhattan.

Nuclear Weapons Explore 54 books about nuclear weapons
The Manhattan Project Explore 18 books about the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Explore 125 books about Manhattan