American Science in an Age of Anxiety: Scientists, Anticommunism, and the Cold War

by John Wang

Book Overview

No professional group in the United States benefited more from World War II than the scientific community. After the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, scientists enjoyed unprecedented public visibility and political influence as a new elite whose expertise now seemed critical to America's future. But as the United States grew committed to Cold War conflict with the Soviet Union and the ideology of anticommunism came to dominate American politics,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807847496
• ISBN13: 9780807847497
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: University of North Carolina Press
• Length: 392 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

A thorough and thought-provoking book

In this meticulously researched book, first-time author Jessica Wang sheds new light on the tempestuous relationship between scientists and the US government during the Cold War period. Wang's access to previously classified documents, coupled with first-hand interviews with the scientists involved, support fresh thinking on the causes and costs of anticommunist paranoia. Readers will appreciate the tensions that existed during the post-war years and understand why compromise between scientists and political leaders was often elusive. The lessons learned are as applicable today as they were half a century ago. "American Science in an Age of Anxiety" is valuable reading for students of 20th century history, or anyone interested in learning how America dealt with internal challenges during contentious times.