Atomic: The First War of Physics and the Secret History of the Atom Bomb 1939-49 [Hardcover]

Most people have opinions about the world's first atomic war. Was it really necessary to atom-bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Did the Nazis really have a credible A-bomb programme? Could the Soviets really have built their A- and H-bombs without spying on the Americans?

Relying on newly opened archives, recently declassified material and compendious research, science-writer Jim Baggott addresses all these questions and more. Covering the ten year period from 1939 to 1949, Baggott introduces us to a cast of more than 300 characters: Americans, Canadians, British, Germans, Russians; scientists, politicians, spies, military men and assassins.

In lesser hands this could have ended up as 492 pages of hyper-detailed indigestible stodge: instead Baggott has made it into a thriller. He deftly cuts between the opposing camps as the race to achieve detonation moves from crisis to crisis. The result is a real page turner.

Here's another thing I liked about this book. It's conventional to portray the Los Alamos scientists under Oppenheimer as saintly, far-sighted humanists fighting an unwinnable war against the evil representatives of the US military-industrial complex. Baggott carries a refreshingly small amount of such `bleeding-heart liberal baggage', pointing out the naivety of such positions and the disasters which would have occurred had the US administration actually bought into the scientists' proposals. There is an extended epilogue which brings the story right up to 2008.

Readable it may be but the level of detail makes this book of interest chiefly to those with a special interest in the political struggles and organisational challenges attendant upon the transition to the atomic age. Such readers will be richly rewarded.

This book exceeded my expectations. I was expecting the book to be difficult to get into, and dry due to the subject matter (despite being about the atomic bomb).

However, it was very readable, with excellent footnotes on many pages to explain certain elements further (often revealing after the event information to bolster the story).

The author has a way with words which allow him to tell factual events like a story in very well managed sections. They dont last forever, and the author will break up a story if needs be and return to it later.

I cannot comment on how factually accurate it is, but I believe it is well researched, and the author will actually point out if something he is writing about appears 'lost to history'

Its a big book, and good value for money. Anybody with an interest in war history or science will love this book. I thought I knew the history of atomic weapons quite well, but I learnt a lot from this book.

Any improvements... well the only one I can think of is that it becomes easy to lose track of the many characters you are introduced to (and there are lots). A double page spread of all of them with details of which side they were on and their role would help a bit. This is a minor criticism though, as I do think this is the best book on atomic history that Ive read.

*** edited - this section is actually at the back of the book. I didnt notice it until afterwards.

Just to provide a summary, the history of the atomic bomb, from the discovery of U235 fission through to the 1949 is covered in great detail. It covers participation from all countries, with a lot of detail about the US/Germany/UK/Russia involvement.

Spoiler :

Its amazing to think that we only got the bomb as quick as we did because we BELIEVED that Germany would acquire it before us unless we worked faster and harder, and that spies in the programme readily gave secrets to Russia to ensure they had the bomb after the war was over to ensure no one country had access to such unlimited warfare capabilities.

This book makes the above very readable. Sometimes you cant get better than fact for a good story.

Highly Recommended.

The only reason this book is a 4* and not a 5 is because I think the author covered 1960 to 2009 very quickly. Too quickly in fact. I know the book was 1939 to 1949.. but then why mention the 1960's stuff at all ? And the summary of the current status quo in 2008/9 seemed a bit brief in comparison. Anyways... a fantastic book.

"Atomic" is a comprehensive update of the history of the development from the beginning to today of the atom bomb in Germany, the US, England and the UdSSR. There was heavy competition between these countries usually with little knowledge of what the others did. The update with newly discovered facts is extremely valuable because lots of legends tried afterwards to reinterpret history - usually wrongly.
For me it was a positive surprise to find important remarks on my uncle's role (Dr. Paul Rosbaud) whose files with the British Secret Services are still not open to the public. This fact allows the only conclusion that the files must still be of importance as they contain facts not known to the public, facts which have to be kept secret even 60 years after WW2 in order to protect British interests. Therefore I am grateful to the book.