Book · 1986 · History
The making of the atomic bomb
- mentions
- 8
- people
- 7
- podcasts
- 4
- episodes
- 7
- recommendations
- 5
Rachel, um Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodess, which I think it it reads like a blockbuster movie, but it is an 850 page book about physics. um all about how scientific breakthroughs and discoveries happen and very much how about how they're shaped by um social forces, political events, and government priorities.
The best things said about it
One of my favorite books, which I'm now listening to, I read it 30 years ago, is The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes.
Number two, in a totally different direction, um The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes. We didn't talk as much about some of the AI stuff today, but at the end of the book there's a pretty long, elaborate comparison between the Manhattan Project and the building of these large language models.
Nate Silver The Ezra Klein Show · Aug 2024 The making of the atomic bomb Richard rhods it's an example of Technology being developed very quickly and with very broad implications.
One of the recurring things in it is it's a very personality driven compared to I guess what I was imagining before I picked it up like who were these men and what were they thinking.
Where and when it comes up
Mentions per year
How it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
7 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes is a comprehensive, Pulitzer Prize-winning history that chronicles the scientific discoveries, political pressures, and personal personalities behind the creation of nuclear weapons. On The Ezra Klein Show, Rachel Bard recommended the book as a blockbuster-style read that details how momentous scientific breakthroughs are deeply shaped by social and political forces. Jacob Howland praised the text on The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, noting its ability to capture the theoretical physics landscape of the early twentieth century. Nate Silver also recommended the book on The Ezra Klein Show, pointing out that its concluding chapters offer a fascinating historical parallel to the modern development of large language models and artificial intelligence. Dario Amodei recommended the work on the same podcast to illustrate how rapidly technology with massive global implications can emerge. Kelsey Piper discussed reading the personality-driven narrative as preparation for understanding technological risks. Kai Bird referenced Rhodes's book while discussing previous literature on the atomic age, and Will Chamberlain mentioned reading it to explore the historical roots of nuclear proliferation. Speakers consistently lauded the book for its gripping narrative style and its profound relevance to contemporary technological ethics.
Every mention
Dario Amodei the making of the atomic bomb Richard rhods it's an example of Technology being developed very quickly and… 1
“the making of the atomic bomb Richard rhods it's an example of Technology being developed very quickly and with very broad implications”
Jacob Howland One of my favorite books, which I'm now listening to, I read it 30 years ago, is The Making of the Atomic B… 1
“One of my favorite books, which I'm now listening to, I read it 30 years ago, is The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodess. And what's so great about this book is, I mean, it has many wonderful features.”
Kelsey Piper and one of the recurring things in it is it's a very personality driven compared to I guess what I was imag… 1
“and one of the recurring things in it is it's a very personality driven compared to I guess what I was imagining before I picked it up like who were these men and what were they thinking”
Nate Silver Number two, in a totally different direction, um The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes. We didn't… 1
“Number two, in a totally different direction, um The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes. We didn't talk as much about some of the AI stuff today, but at the end of the book there's a pretty long, elaborate comparison between the Manhattan Project and the building of these large language models”
Rachel Bard Rachel, um Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodess, which I think it it reads like a blockbuster movie… 1
“Rachel, um Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodess, which I think it it reads like a blockbuster movie, but it is an 850 page book about physics. um all about how scientific breakthroughs and discoveries happen and very much how about how they're shaped by um social forces, political events, and government priorities.”
Kai Bird and of course there's already a book with that title the making of the atomic bombad by Richard rhods right… 1
“and of course there's already a book with that title the making of the atomic bombad by Richard rhods right but also a p prizewinning book by the way that's right”
Will Chamberlain have you read the making of the atomic bomb by Richard Rhodes 1
“have you read the making of the atomic bomb by Richard Rhodes”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker1
“and that is how I finally got some time to read the making of the atomic bomb”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“If it was just about building the H-bomb, the atomic bomb, of course there's already a book with that title, The Making of the Atomic Bomb, by Richard Rhodes, right? But also a prize-winning book, by the way.”