In this biography, Hunner (history, New Mexico State U.), whose father worked with atomic bombs in New Mexico, explores how the West influenced J. Robert Oppenheimer as a scientist and person and how he influenced it. He describes how Oppenheimer's life changed the course of history, as he helped locate the atomic weapons research lab at Los Alamos, New Mexico, and established leading physics departments at universities in California, which aided in the formation of research labs, uranium mines, and nuclear reactors in the region, transforming it into an "atomic West." He also traces his childhood, marriage and family life, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and his downfall as he was investigated for communist activities after World War II. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)