Bomb : the Race to Build and Steal the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Locations
Call Number: Y BOCD 623.451 Sh, Kids BOCD / Nonfiction / History
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Malletts Creek Branch, Westgate Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown Kids 4-week checkout	Y BOCD 623.451 Sh	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Malletts Kids A/V 4-week checkout	Kids BOCD / Nonfiction / History	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Westgate Kids A/V 4-week checkout	Kids BOCD / Nonfiction / History	4-week checkout	On Shelf

Compact discs.
Unabridged.
Three-way race -- Chain reactions -- How to build an atomic bomb -- Final assembly.
Read by Roy Samuelson.
Recounts the scientific discoveries that enabled atom splitting, the military intelligence operations that occurred in rival countries, and the work of brilliant scientists hidden at Los Alamos.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

School Library Journal Review
Summary / Annotation
Author Notes

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

atomic history submitted by camelsamba on June 24, 2014, 7:52pm The book weaves together 3 different stories: the physicists who created the first atomic bomb (aka The Manhattan Project), a group of spies who worked to undermine American scientific advances by giving it to the Soviets, and some Norwegian resistance fighters who sabotaged German heavy water production. I have read other books about Oppenheimer and the Manhattan project, so was familiar with the broad outlines and even much of the espionage activities. However, I did learn new pieces about both. The Norwegian angle was entirely new to me.

I suspect it's because I was already familiar with this history that I do not rate it as highly as some. Also, I listened to this as a BOCD, and did not enjoy the reader. He sounded too robotic. Perhaps this is also why I didn't find it that compelling as a narrative - not that it was boring, but it's also not the best science or history writing I've ever encountered. Apparently the print edition includes maps and photos and such - I'm going to have to get that from the library so I can see what I missed! Also, at times I was losing track of dates and chronology - i would have been able to keep track better if I'd seen it in print (ymmv; i remember those kinds of details better if I see them).