Tyce DeYoung

This is an excellent book on several levels.  The subject is a powerful reminder of the importance of science in the modern world, for good or ill, and Rhodes provides a clear explanation of the science behind the Manhattan Project.  But this is as much, or more, a study of the human side of science: the personalities and motivations of scientists and the evolving relationship between government, society and science.  Rhodes provides a look behind the curtain at some of the most important scientists of the 20th century, showing them as people rather than icons.  Although I am not a historian, the depiction of the scientific process presented in this history rings very true, and will be of great value to non-scientists seeking a better understanding of the nature of the scientific enterprise.