The Most Awful Responsibility: Truman and the Secret Struggle for Control of the Atomic Age
SKU: 57155854260

The Most Awful Responsibility: Truman and the Secret Struggle for Control of the Atomic Age

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The Most Awful Responsibility: Truman and the Secret Struggle for Control of the Atomic Age"This is historical research at its best." Dan Carlin "I thought I knew the story but learned much that I didn't know. Outstanding!" Richard Rhodes "A well written opus." The Wall Street Journal President Truman's choice to drop the atomic bomb is the most debated decision in the 20th Century. But what if Truman's actual decision wasn't what everyone thinks it was? The conventional narrative is that American leaders had a choice: Invade Japan, which

"This is historical research at its best." -- Dan Carlin

"I thought I knew the story but learned much that I didn't know. Outstanding!"-- Richard Rhodes

"A well-written opus." -- The Wall Street Journal

President Truman's choice to drop the atomic bomb is the most debated decision in the 20th Century. But what if Truman's actual decision wasn't what everyone thinks it was?

The conventional narrative is that American leaders had a choice: Invade Japan, which would have cost millions of Allied and Japanese lives, or instead, use the atom bomb in the hope of convincing Japan to surrender. Truman, the story goes, carefully weighed the pros and cons before deciding that the atomic bomb would be used against Japanese cities, as the lesser of two evils.

But nuclear historian Alex Wellerstein argues that is not what happened. Based on a close reading of the historical record, The Most Awful Responsibility shows that, despite his reputation as an ardent defender of the atomic bomb, Truman:

 

  • Wanted to avoid the "murder" and "slaughter" of innocent civilians
  • Believed that the atomic bomb should never be used again
  • Hoped that nuclear weapons would be outlawed in his lifetime

 

Not only did Truman not take part in the decision to use the bomb, but the one major decision that he did make was a very different one -- one that he himself did not fully understand until after the atomic bomb was used. The weight of that decision, and that misunderstanding, became the major reason that atomic bombs have not been used again since World War II.

Wellerstein makes a startling case that Truman was possibly the most anti-nuclear American president of the twentieth century, but his ambitions were strongly constrained by the domestic and international politics of the postwar world and the early Cold War. This book is a must-read for all who want to truly understand not only why the bomb was dropped on Japan but also why it has not been used since.

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SKU: 57155854260

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Tara
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 3
3 Star Read,
Format: Kindle
This book wasn't bad, but wasn't my cup of tea. It's highly disappointing because the storyline is so original. There is no real conflict or resolution, so the entire thing feels flat. As a lover of omegaverse books, I know there is a ton of variety out there, and ov is really up to the author. But this one is weird. Omegas have multiple scent glands all over their bodies and go into week long heats every month. Alphas have knots in the middle of their shaft instead of the base, and the knot doesn't always swell, no explanation of when or why. It doesn't engage at all when the mouth is in play. I also didn't enjoy the author's writing style. Each paragraph is only 1 or 2 sentences long, and the entire book reads very stacato. The conversations are stiff and unnatural feeling. Everything is very repetitive, both in word choice and in thought. The same thing is repeated 3 or 4 times over a single page, multiple times over. I ended up doing so much skimming. The first 50% of the book is all slow burn, and the last 50% is almost straight mediocre spice. This wouldn't have been all bad if the grammar and spelling errors didn't start at the exact same time. Tongue is repeatedly misspelled in the middle of the spice.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2024
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Debby & Brian
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
Cozy Omegaverse
Format: Kindle
This is the true definition of Cozy Omegaverse. LA wedding coordinator meets her pack at the location for a couple’s destination wedding. Low angst because they are scent matched high heat with heats and knots. Everything you love about this genre with very little anxiety. Simply a fun experience to read and a book I will comeback to when I’m in a slump. I simply love reading this book
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Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2026
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Iputmybookdownforthis
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 4
Cute Omegaverse story
Format: Kindle
3.75 stars and 2 for spice. Adorable Omegaverse story about a wedding planner who has to go to a small town to plan a wedding for a movie star. While there, she meets her pack. This covers her struggles of not living there but trying to keep her relationship going with her 3 Alphas. It's a quick read and cute, so I recommend it for people who like light-hearted RH stories.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2025
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Dani
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 3
real good
Format: Kindle
This was a solid read for the ABO universe. The characters are great. The smut scenes were well written. And the town is so cute I want to go there. It didn’t have much character development it just felt like I was getting to the characters as they were getting to know each other.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2025
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Tstar
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
So sweet
Format: Kindle
It’s so unexpectedly sweet that it sneaks up on you. Each character is so unique and charming. I love the openness and honesty among their pack. It really blows me away how wonderful this omegaverse trope plays out. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2026

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