Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon Theme of Lies and Deceit

There was so much lying in the race to build the bomb, it would've made awesome daytime TV. There were spies lying to their loved ones, government officials lying to the people they seemed to trust, allies lying to allies—it can get a little difficult to keep it all straight. Some of the liars with their pants on fire got away with their deceptions (we're looking at you, Ted Hall), but as we see toward the end of Bomb: The Race to Build—And Steal—The World's Most Dangerous Weapon, most of the worst offenders eventually had to come clean, though to varying costs.

1. When would honesty have been a better policy? Were most of the deceptions necessary ones? Explain your reasoning, please and thank you.
2. How did Gold's, Fuchs's, and Hall's methods of dealing with their espionage differ? What effect did this have on them?
3. Who were some of the unfortunate casualties from all the lying? Were there any clear beneficiaries?

Honesty is always the best policy. Except in wartime—then it's whatever goes.

All is fair in love and war, including lies.