Here’s the first Oppenheimer anecdote from American Prometheus that really grabbed my attention.
In the spring of 1932, Robert wrote his brother a long letter explaining why [discipline and work had always been his guiding principles]. The fact that discipline, he argued, “is good for the soul is more fundamental than any of the grounds given for its goodness. I believe that through discipline, though not through discipline alone, we can achieve serenity, and a certain small but precious measure of freedom from the accidents of incarnation … and that detachment which preserves the world which it renounces. I believe that through discipline we learn to preserve what is essential to our happiness in more and more adverse circumstances, and to abandon with simplicity what would else have seemed to use indispensable.” And only through discipline is it possible “to see the world without the gross distortion of personal desire, and in seeing it so, accept more easily our earthly privation and its earthly horror”. [p100]
This captures the elegance of discipline as well as anything I’ve read. Not the triumphant, hard-charging, ironman variant of discipline that gets common airplay these days but the pliable constrained firmness that brings liberation from ennui. The arc of Oppenheimer’s life was largely defined by this pursuit of discipline and intellectual rigor in physics, aesthetics, and most famously politics.
I recently finished American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherman. This magnificent biography covers the span of Oppenheimer’s remarkable life, from his birth into a prosperous German-Jewish immigrant family in New York and ascent in to the top echelons of theoretical physics, his experiences with leftist politics in the 1930’s, his legendary leadership of the Manhattan Project, and subsequent role after World War II as a probing critic of atomic proliferation which would ultimately lead to his humiliation during the Red Scare of the 1950’s.
As a technologist, the book is easily the most inspiring thing I’ve read in years. If software developers think that their blend of improvisation, genius, and personality came about in the late 1970s, the stories of physicists in Europe (Germany/England/Netherlands) and the USA (Harvard/Berkeley/Princeton) will open their eyes to the freewheeling climate of imagination and innovation that domincated theoretical physics in the first half of the 20th century. It was a time when science, and thus scientists, were revered by the public at large as great intellectual patriots and leaders. Of course this time couldn’t last; it never does. But at its peak it produced atomic energy and weaponry - the most significant technology evolution in hundreds of years.
Being somewhat of a polymath I closely identified with Oppenheimer’s lifelong passion for literature, politics, and fine art. Throughout his life Oppenheimer’s colleagues never seemed to know whether physics or poetry were his true passion.
Oppenheimer’s political dismemberment is also closely examined; with his rise to prominence came continual growing suspicion from the right-wing and military establishments that this most charismatic of scientists could have too strong an influence on American nuclear policy. It’s a great cautionary tale that highlights the political cost exacted for the strident usage of one’s intellect and charisma for purposes of pacifism and public service.
I’ll be posting some quotes from Oppenheimer over the next week, with some thoughts and observations on them. Post with your thoughts and comments - would love to hear the thoughts of others on the book and the man.
I rediscovered last year’s Muscles album this week. Certainly not the most subtle music I’ve heard it’s nonetheless an awesome listen. The Australian self-produced the record in his home near Melbourne. If you’ve not heard it, definitely check it out. Worth the time.
I can’t read “Rising Up and Rising Down”. It’s just too long, too insufferably long, and too egocentric and insanely self-involved for me to read. Apologies to John Whitmore and everyone else who seems to love this book but I just can’t deal.
Honestly, what can one make of a sentence like this: “When honor becomes, as it did for Djilas and for Joan of Arc, a bezel for the jewel of altruism - that is, when it impels us to recognize the rights of another self even at the expense of our own - we must respect and admire it, the rule of self-preservation being overfrequently extended to the point of abuse for anyone to withhold glory form the rule of self-abnegation - provided, as I hope I have made clear, that the sacrifice is made voluntarily, not coerced or manipulated, as it increasingly was with Napoleon’s soldiers.”
What is he trying to say? Someone, ANYONE, please explain this to me.
Anyways … now it’s on to “American Prometheus”. The introduction suggests a certain left-of-center bent (not inappropriate given the basic historical outlines). Hopefully the story itself remains focused.
Saw an awesome performance in Yangshuo over the weekend. Zhang Yimou, director of “Raise The Red Lantern”, “Hero”, and other notable Chinese films, has assembled a light show that’s set in the karst mountains around Yangshuo.
I’ve never seen anything like it before. It depicts the story of Liu Sanjie, a folk tale that’s been partially co-opted by the Chinese government as a proto-revolutionary tale. To achieve it, Zhang assembles a cast of 600 locals who in five acts depict a series of moods and impressions deriving from her story.
It’s definitely got a patriotic aspect. More prominent, however, is the feeling of deep cultural pride that’s being encouraged by the performance. The local farmers and fishermen march by in the finale with banners naming their individual villages, which was pretty overwhelming.
Been thinking a lot about how I can use all the music to create some mixes on the fly. Looked briefly at the complex tools available for common use (traktor, serato live, etc). All seem expensive and complex. Desperately seeking a GarageBand-grade solution for initial entry. Any ideas? Know of anything good for an initial session?
