Description
Book SynopsisThough thousands of articles and books have been published on various aspects of the Manhattan Project, this book is the first comprehensive single-volume history prepared by a specialist for curious readers without a scientific background.
This project, the United States Army’s program to develop and deploy atomic weapons in World War II, was a pivotal event in human history. The author presents a wide-ranging survey that not only tells the story of how the project was organized and carried out, but also introduces the leading personalities involved and features simplified but accurate descriptions of the underlying science and the engineering challenges. The technical points are illustrated by reader-friendly graphics. .
Trade Review“The book is written in a clear and powerful language, and it involves a reader as a catching detective novel. Multiple memoirs and archives are cited, plenty of rare historical pictures and illustrations are shown. The book presents a fascinating history of science and technology, management and politics, giving to readers a view and feeling of participation in one of the most pivotal undertakings in human history which is a big part of our contemporary world.” (Stan Lipovetsky, Technometrics, Vol. 64 (2), 2022)
Table of ContentsIntroduction: An Overview of the Manhattan Project.- Background: A Brief but Friendly Tour of Nuclear Physics.- Organization: Coordinating Government and Army Support.- Design: The Los Alamos Laboratory.- Production: Uranium and Plutonium.- Testing: Project Trinity.- Deployment: Hiroshima and Nagasaki.- Legacy: The Cold War, the Nuclear Landscape, and Possible Futures.
