In this Book

summary
During World War II, the lives of millions of Americans lay precariously in the hands of a few brilliant scientists who raced to develop the first weapon of mass destruction. Elected officials gave the scientists free rein in the Manhattan Project without understanding the complexities and dangers involved in splitting the atom.
 
The Manhattan Project was the first example of a new type of choice for congressmen, presidents, and other government officials: life and death on a national scale. From that moment, our government began fashioning public policy for issues of scientific development, discoveries, and inventions that could secure or threaten our existence and our future. But those same men and women had no training in such fields, did not understand the ramifications of the research, and relied on incomplete information to form potentially life-changing decisions.
 
Through the story of the Manhattan Project, Neil J. Sullivan asks by what criteria the people in charge at the time made such critical decisions. He also ponders how similar judgments are reached today with similar incomprehension from those at the top as our society dives down the potential rabbit hole of bioengineering, nanotechnology, and scientific developments yet to come. 
 

Table of Contents

restricted access Download Full Book
  1. Cover
  2. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Title Page, Copyright, Dedication
  2. pp. i-vi
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Contents
  2. pp. vii-viii
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. List of Illustrations
  2. pp. ix-x
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Acknowledgments
  2. pp. xi-xvi
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Introduction
  2. pp. 1-8
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 1. A Squash Court in Chicago
  2. pp. 9-29
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 2. FDR and the Einstein Letter
  2. pp. 30-52
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 3. A Bungled Start
  2. pp. 53-66
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 4. The President’s Man and the Liberal State
  2. pp. 67-94
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 5. MAUD— Working with the British
  2. pp. 95-123
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 6. The German Bomb
  2. pp. 124-140
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 7. Secrets and Spies
  2. pp. 141-156
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 8. Congress Rebounds
  2. pp. 157-176
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 9. The Transition to Truman
  2. pp. 177-195
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 10. Hiroshima
  2. pp. 196-219
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 11. Science and Democracy
  2. pp. 220-236
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Notes
  2. pp. 237-250
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Bibliography
  2. pp. 251-256
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Index
  2. pp. 257-260
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Image Plates
  2. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
Back To Top

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless.