author’s note: An Inside Joke
introduction: The Paradox Inside a Puzzle Inside a Fantasy
part 1: the fantasy
chapter 1: Invisible Demons
chapter 2: A Couple of Remaining Questions
chapter 3: Einstein Drops a Bomb
chapter 4: The Other End of the Universe
chapter 5: Breaking Open the Atom
part 2: the puzzle
chapter 1: A Fortuitous Condensation of Genius
chapter 2: An Implied Threat from the Fatherland
chapter 3: A Jolt in the Dark
chapter 4: A Light at the Mouth of the Tunnel
chapter 5: Post-war Planning
part 3: the paradox
chapter 1: A Quest for Power
chapter 2: Digging Canals, Curing Cancer, and Flying to Jupiter
chapter 3: The Graphite’s On Fire!
chapter 4: Nuclear Rockets and Nuclear Airplanes
chapter 5: The Building Boom, the Bust, and a Resurgence 300
epilogue: The Radioactive Park
bibliography
acknowledgments