For the Ages: A History Podcast

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

The New York Historical Season 4 Episode 20

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0:00 | 27:11

As the man who led the effort to create the most violent weapon in the history of mankind with the invention of the atomic bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer is a divisive figure in American history. From his childhood in New York City to his career as a physicist through World War II and the Cold War, Kai Bird offers a riveting account of Oppenheimer’s life and how he weighed the complex moral implications of his life’s work. 

Recorded on April 3, 2024