"Please Don't Steal The Atomic Bomb," by Alan Adelson- “The most powerful club in the Universe”- that’s the marketing of possession of the atom bomb in this primary source article. The article then goes on to detail just how easy it is to come into possession of all the different elements necessary to make an atom bomb. There is a simple description of how an atomic explosion works, and a good set of descriptions about how the AEC and the media were dealing with the knowledge of how unsecured their intelligence was at that time. The article approachably discusses nuclear secrecy, legal enforcement, and the dark possibilities of a proliferated nuclear world.
The History of the Atomic Bomb, by Richard Rhodes- Richard Rhodes is one of the foremost historians on the history, implementation and ramifications of the atomic bomb. This book is one of if not the definitive volume on the history of the bomb, written like a detailed character study of every major figure involved it it’s research, construction and use. The book is huge, but very well-researched in terms of pscychology and science.
It's difficult to choose which sources to tell you about... there are so many wonderful books out there about the making, the history, the science, the politics and even the culture of the atomic bomb. One, Hiroshima by John Hersey, was originally published as a series of articles in The New Yorker very shortly after the bombs were dropped on Japan. It's a fabulous read, and very quick.
Another interesting angle is to look at the leisure culture surrounding the time of the bomb. David Hogan does this in his book Science Fiction America: Essays on SciFi Cinema. With a chapter on Flash Gordon and his role in the propaganda of World War II, Walt Disney and even the sexuality of nuclear science as portrayed through the media, Hogan approaches his topic humorously but with a high level of credibility and interest.
The more you look, the more you find, it seems. :-)
Happy hunting! Again...
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