The Making of the Atomic Bomb
The Making of the Atomic Bomb is Richard Rhodes's history of nuclear weapons, first published by Simon & Schuster in New York in 1986. It runs from the discovery of fission through the Manhattan Project to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First edition
- Simon & Schuster, 1986
- First published
- Simon & Schuster, New York, 1986
The first edition of The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes was published in New York by Simon & Schuster in 1986. We track 2 editions.
Which edition do you have?
First edition
- 1st Simon & Schuster1986 Hardback I own The Making of the Atomic Bomb, Simon & Schuster 1986 Log in to want this
Later and other editions
- Penguin Books1988 Hardback I own The Making of the Atomic Bomb, Penguin Books 1988 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
In print
- Editions recorded
- 11 on Open Library, 9 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 5 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
More by Richard Rhodes
CollectorsNot sure which edition you have, or want to tell other collectors about your copy?
Ask a question
Write a review
Read it or own it? Share what The Making of the Atomic Bomb is like to read or collect.
Know what you are looking at
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of The Making of the Atomic Bomb?
The first edition of The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes was published in New York by Simon & Schuster in 1986.
How many editions of The Making of the Atomic Bomb are there?
We track 2 editions of The Making of the Atomic Bomb, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Where these facts come from
- The Making of the Atomic Bomb, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- The Making of the Atomic Bomb editions, Open Library (openlibrary.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 8 November 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.