The Most Awful Responsibility
| Author | Alex Wellerstein |
|---|---|
| Published | December 9, 2025 |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| ISBN | 9780063379435 |
| Website | alexwellerstein |
The Most Awful Responsibility: Truman and the Secret Struggle for Control of the Atomic Age is a 2025 nonfiction book by Alex Wellerstein about U.S. President Truman's nuclear policy.
Reception
Kirkus Reviews called it "A nuanced portrait of a president who shaped the modern nuclear age."[1] A review in The Wall Street Journal said it was "a well-written opus" drawing on recently unclassified documents and private diaries of Truman's contemporaries.[2] Library Journal said it was a "must-read book".[3]
References
- ^ "The Most Awful Responsibility", Kirkus Reviews (Book review), September 27, 2025
- ^ Jonathan W. Jordan (January 17, 2026). "Accepting the Nuclear Option". The Wall Street Journal (Book review).
- ^ Thomas O'Brien (October 1, 2025), "The Most Awful Responsibility: Truman and the Struggle for the Control of the Atomic Age", Library Journal (Book review)
Further reading
- Eric Ross (January 4, 2026). "Eric Ross on Alex Wellerstein's 'The Most Awful Responsibility: Truman and the Secret Struggle for Control of the Atomic Age'". Official website (Book review). Society for U.S. Intellectual History. Retrieved 2026-02-21.