The book is just one of two of his personal items that the Lab owns, the other being his office chair. Oppenheimer’s handwritten initials appear in the upper right corner of the front endpapers.

Ryder, is part of the collections at the Lab’s Bradbury Science Museum in Los Alamos. Richard Rhodes, who wrote the book 'The Making of the Atomic Bomb,' proposed that “the bomb for Bohr and Oppenheimer was a weapon of death that might also end war and redeem mankind.” Bhagavad-Gita and the Bomb Oppenheimer’s copy of 'Bhagavad-Gita,' translated by Arthur W. A great force could enthrall the narrator to do greater good. “Batter my heart” expresses the paradox that by being chained to God, the narrator can be set free. Oppenheimer continued, “That still does not make a Trinity, but in another, better known devotional poem Donne opens, ‘ Batter my heart, three person’d God.’ Beyond this, I have no clues whatever.” There is a poem of John Donne, written just before his death, which I know and love.” Oppenheimer then quoted the sonnet “ Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness” about a man unafraid to die because he believed in resurrection. According to a copy of the letter that is a part of the collections of the Lab’s National Security Research Center, Oppenheimer said, “Why I chose the name is not clear, but I know what thoughts were in my mind. Leslie Groves wrote to Oppenheimer to ask about the origins of the name Trinity. Seventeenth-century poet John Donne was one of Oppenheimer’s favorite writers and an inspiration during his work with the Manhattan Project. Two of his influences were John Donne and the Hindu scripture 'Bhagavad-Gita.' Oppenheimer recalled both during the Trinity test. Created in just 27, albeit harrowing, months, Oppenheimer and his team at the Los Alamos Lab worked nonstop on this clandestine effort to help end World War II.Īs he had done throughout his life, Oppenheimer continued to foster his love of literature during the Manhattan Project. Known as one of the greatest scientific achievements ever, the successful detonation of the world’s first nuclear weapon marked the dawn of the Atomic Age. The Trinity test, which took place 76 years ago on July 16 in the New Mexico desert, epitomizes this. Oppenheimer’s work at Los Alamos was defined not only by physics and administrative skill, but also by a life philosophy inspired, in part, by literature.

Robert Oppenheimer, was a man of sonnets and scientific synthesis. By Patty Templeton, digital archivist, National Security Research Center

Doctor atomic batter my heart poem