NYC Gazette

J. Robert Oppenheimer is widely recognized for his contribution to the development of the atomic bomb. However, a new perspective on his role and legacy is offered by Gallatin Professor Peder Anker in his book, "For the Love of Bombs: The Trail of Nuclear Suffering." Anker argues that Oppenheimer's salary reflected a lower status than his reputation suggests, noting, "If the salary is an indicator of status among bomb makers, the supposed ‘father of the bomb’ was low on the totem pole, earning a lot less than some of the other scientists."

Anker explores various aspects of the atomic bomb's history, including its cultural impacts. He highlights the association between the invention of the bikini and nuclear testing, stating, "It was the Parisian fashion designer Louis Réard who created the first bikini in the summer of 1946 as a reaction to the nuclear annihilation of the Bikini Atoll by the US military in the Pacific." The use of atomic imagery in popular culture, such as the term "bikini," is an area explored in his work, with Anker explaining, "There’s a reported quip from a journalist of the time that ‘They call them bikinis for they don’t cover them atoll.’"

Anker also draws attention to those who suffered due to nuclear testing, the "downwinders," who were exposed to radioactive fallout. They "faced increased cancer rates and health issues" and played a significant role in environmental and legal movements leading to nuclear test ban treaties.

The sexualization of nuclear imagery is another theme in Anker’s book. He points to how atomic concepts entered everyday language as metaphors for female beauty and allure, a tendency he finds troubling: "This imagery portrays women as destructive forces that lay waste to men, the ‘victims’ of their devastating beauty."

Additionally, Anker calls attention to the voices of dissent that arose shortly after the bombings. He argues that early opposition to nuclear weapons often came from marginalized communities. As he notes, “The first reported resistance to nuclear bombs that I found came from marginalized citizens of color on the street in the New York region."

Anker’s insights invite readers to re-examine the narratives surrounding the atomic bomb and consider the historical complexities involved.