Episode · StarTalk Radio · 2023-09-05
Kai Bird on StarTalk Radio: books mentioned
Oppenheimer: Birth of the Atomic Age with Kai Bird
If someone else led the Manhattan Project, would it have gone differently? Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses theoretical physicist J.
Neil deGrasse Tyson recommended American Prometheus by Kai Bird. Kai Bird discussed Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley and The making of the atomic bomb by Richard Rhodes.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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American Prometheus
American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J.
Recommended“He's the author of American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of Jay Robert Oppenheimer, on which Christopher Nolan's hit movie Oppenheimer is based.”
Where to get it
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Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus
Discussed“another famous book that uses or references Prometheus is the subtitle of Mary Shell's book Frankenstein and yeah what or or what's the full title is Frankenstein the modern Prometheus”
Where to get it
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The making of the atomic bomb
The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes is a comprehensive historical account of the scientific breakthroughs, political forces, and personalities behind the development of nuclear weapons during World War II.
Discussed“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”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (5) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Passing American Prometheus
“he's the author of American Prometheus the Triumph and tragedy of Jay Robert Oppenheimer on which Christopher Nolan's hit movie Oppenheimer is based”
Passing American Prometheus
“today we're gonna have a special edition featuring my exclusive conversation with Kai bird who is Kai bird the biographer of J Robert Oppenheimer in a book that appeared by back in 2005 called American Prometheus the Triumph and Tra tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer”
“Another famous book that references Prometheus is the subtitle of Mary Shelley's book Frankenstein. And, yeah, what's the full title? It is Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus.”
Plugged To Infinity and Beyond
“hi I'm Neil degrass Tyson your personal astrophysicist and I'm Lindsay Nix Walker senior producer of Star Talk and Neil and I just co-authored a brand new Star Talk book coming out September 12th yeah this is the third in a series of collaborations with National Geographic books and this one is titled to infinity and beyond and it's available”
Passing The making of the atomic bomb
“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.”