Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson (PDF)

Description

By the author of the acclaimed bestsellers Benjamin Franklin and Steve Jobs, this is the definitive biography of Albert Einstein.How did his mind work? What made him a genius? Isaacson’s biography shows how his scientific imagination sprang from the rebellious nature of his personality. His fascinating story is a testament to the connection between creativity and freedom. Based on newly released personal letters of Einstein, this book explores how an imaginative, impertinent patent clerk—a struggling father in a difficult marriage who couldn’t get a teaching job or a doctorate—became the mind reader of the creator of the cosmos, the locksmith of the mysteries of the atom, and the universe. His success came from questioning conventional wisdom and marveling at mysteries that struck others as mundane. This led him to embrace a morality and politics based on respect for free minds, free spirits, and free individuals. These traits are just as vital for this new century of globalization, in which our success will depend on our creativity, as they were for the beginning of the last century, when Einstein helped usher in the modern age.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐I normally read political biographies or historical books. Yes this book could fall into those categories but I think you get what I’m saying. Having said this book was fantastic. His life story was fascinating and Isaacson did a fantastic job with the narrative. I will admit I did struggle some with the heavy science chapters but Isaacson did an adequate job of explaining it to a non scientist like me. I’ve read his book on Franklin and will be starting his book on da Vinci.

⭐What is a biography of a great man good for ? – in my case, as probably for many others, it is to look for clues to understand your own. Everyone can identify a part of himself in Einstein – he doesnt let himself be told anything – by his professors, his mother , or his wife – he finds (German) nationalism stupid, but stands up for Jewish nationalism not because he felt Jews were special, but because of a lifelong sympathy for the underdog,the oppressed. He flirts with socialism, but regards dogmas of both the right and the left as a threat to the freedom of the individual – sound familiar ?The author, Evelyn Waugh, wrote that you were allowed anything about a man, if you were careful to include that he was successful with women. The 2017 National Geographic series, based on Isaacson’s book is quite well done for the most part, introduces Einstein thrusting his attractive secretary against the chalk written equations on his blackboard- whatever you think of the value of the equations for humanity, for the Universe, please dont leave with the impression that Einstein didnt understand the true meaning of the Big Bang. Ok, this is what Ron Howard, thinks is important, but he does make up for it with the rest of the story – conveying Walter Isaacson’s monumental biography of a man whom ( to borrow Einsteins’ description of Gandhi) – may actually be more apt for himself: Generations to come, it may be, will scarce believe, that one such as this, in flesh and blood, walked upon this Earth. The stories of Einstein – portraits of a scientist as a young man – are particularly relevant – they show how a young man is formed by his environment, how free, bohemian friendships with other young men, his love of women, help him find his way in the world. He learns quickly as many scientists and artists do, to pivot their life to understanding some aspect of Nature, to lift themselves out of the ‘narrow whirlpool of personal experience’ Oh yeah, by redefining our understanding of the very very large – the entire Universe held together by gravity, and the very small – the nature of the atom and light interacting with it – he may be the greatest scientist of all time. (yes, including Newton ) Isaacson’s book and the Genius miniseries based on it , on the National Geographic Channel, conveys in particular what current and future generations must learn and remember from the example of Einstein – how the individual may find his way in an increasingly complicated world, where community and church no longer provide guidance – we learn how he was ridiculed not only by anti-Semites in Germany, but pursued by a highly suspicious American government (remember that class act – J Edgar Hoover, he went after Einstein in 1924, MLKing in 1964 – quite a career!). An interesting irony is presented in Einsteins’ friendship with Fritz Haber – a converted Jew, trying to fit into Prussian culture, and founder of the process to produce the fertilizer that feeds the billions around the world today that might of starved without it. Turns out Haber, against Einsteins’ wishes, was not just a savior of humankind, but also the inventor of chemical warfare – personally supervising the gassing of French troops at Ypres in 1915. We, of course, mourn the one of darkest turns of humanity, when Germany turned against its Jews, using modern chemistry, to yes, kill lots of people quickly. Einstein suggested that Jews, like all ‘tribes’, should not try to assimilate knee-jerk into German (or American) culture and gave early support for the formation of Israel by Weizmann – again it is clear that he was no nationalist, he cared not to dominate other peoples ( Israel’s govt today take note) but believed fully in the right of individuals to express their individuality – this is why his discoveries may have defined the 20th century ( the atom bomb, the microchip, the laser) but his life showed the way for the individual in the 21st century. it is not about how to be genius, that talent may be more innate that we admit, but how to be a human being, how to find ones’ way in the modern world where so many ideas throng our imagination, so many opinions pester us for acceptance. How can we thrive, how to think for ourselves, without hurting others, create things and worlds for ourselves, without encroaching upon others? And how can we do this, not be one of 65 million people who voted for Trump, or even the 2000 million people who seek Likes for their posts on Facebook ? If, as when told about ‘100 German scientists against Einstein’, he retorted ‘If I am wrong, ONE would have been enough’ – for this alone, his life is worth reminding, as humanity may be plunging into another dark age.

⭐Walter Isaacson laid out this biography beautifully. Every chapter covered the history of the man and how he actually interacted with the world. The biography was broken down meticulously chapter by chapter in a natural flow that culminated in me actually crying when he died. No biography had that effect on me before. I personally loved it.

⭐To have read about Einstein as a man, and not merely a scientist, was most riveting.Possibly one of the most popular scientists of our time. Most notable of his traits were his humility, compassion, independent thinking, introversion, pacifism, disdain for bourgeois consumption or ostentatious wealth, and a desire for social equality.While his theories of special and general relativity will continue to elude me, one can still marvel at his thought making process. Pivotal EncountersI found it pivotal that Einstein met Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi and Jost Winteller, at a young age, who believed in encouraging students to visualize images. He also thought it important to nurture the “inner dignity” and individuality of each child. Jost Winteller gave Einstein the wings to take flight on a prosperous career. Another fortunate encounter is with Marcel Grossman who lent Einstein, his maths notes while they were at Zurich Polytechnic and also offered him his first job. He later on provided the necessary Maths that Einstein needed to turn the special theory of relativity into a general theory.Einstein’s reading group, the Olympia academy, largely helped in shaping his thoughts towards the theories on relativity. They mostly read books that explored the intersection of science and philosophy. Granted, Einstein’s individual brilliance is something you see may be only once or twice in a century, but his story encompasses many more characters than popular account. Particularly, his life with Mileva Maric who mothered two of his children. Due to her first pregnancy, she found herself resigned to giving up her dream of being a scientific scholar. History continues to pay little regard to women who make it possible for men to pursue worthy careers.While Einstein met Hendrik Lorentz quite later in his life, Lorentz influence on him was still very profound. He was the one father figure in Einstein’s life. During Lorentz funeral Einstein mentioned with great sadness: “Whatever came from this supreme mind was as lucid and beautiful as a good work of art. He meant more to me personally than anybody else I have met in my lifetime.”It is also worth mentioning, the encounter between Niels Bohr and Einstein. To quote the social philosopher C. P. Snow: “No more profound intellectual debate has ever been conducted.”Another important woman in Einstein’s life, Helen Dukas, was one who was completely discreet, protective, loyal, and not threatening to Elsa. Helen Dukas came to work as Einstein’s secretary in 1928, when he was confined to bed with an inflamed heart. To quote George Dyson: “Her instincts were as infallible and straightforward as a magnetic compass. Although she could display a pleasant smile and lively directness with those she liked, she was generally austere, hard-boiled, and at times quite prickly.”During a later part of his life, Einstein became a closer friend, and a walking partner of the intensely introverted Kurt Gödel, a German-speaking mathematical logician from Brno and Vienna. Gödel wonderfully deliberated on the possibility of time travel basing on Einstein’s theory of relativity. Other significant eventsIt is also worth noting Einstein’s role in the events that led up to the Manhattan Project and ultimately the construction of the atomic bomb. Einstein had contended that the only way to prevent an arms race of atomic weaponry was to bring about an internationalization of military power.As a Jew who had grown up in Germany, Einstein was acutely sensitive racial discrimination. “The more I feel an American, the more this situation pains me,” he wrote in an essay called “The Negro Question” for Pageant magazine. “I can escape the feeling of complicity in it only by speaking out.”It was interesting to note that Einstein was once offered a position as President of Israel. He was “deeply moved” by the offer, Einstein said in his prepared response, and “at once saddened and ashamed” that he would not accept it. “All my life I have dealt with objective matters, hence I lack both the natural aptitude and the experience to deal properly with people and to exercise official function,” he explained.ConclusionTo imagine that Einstein accomplished what he did, in a world before the internet, leaves me in overwhelming awe. I have developed great admiration for the life he lived, and I dare say that it was a FULL life.Notable Quotes“Out yonder there was this huge world, which exists independently of us human beings and which stands before us like a great, eternal riddle.”“A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth.”“The Jew who abandons his faith,” he once said, “is in a similar position to a snail that abandons his shell. He is still a snail.”“I do not believe that the structure of the human brain is to be blamed for the fact that man cannot grasp infinity”

⭐This proved to be an interesting and very complete biography of Einstein, with sources listed for all key facts. Perhaps it was a trifle too long in parts, resulting in me skimming some sections, but it provides a remarkable insight into the life and the times of this great physicist. Whilst I had prior knowledge of Einstein’s scientific work, I had not appreciated other aspects of his life, including his troubled relationships with his first wife and his children from that marriage, nor had I understood the extent of the anti-semitism to which he had been subjected, nor his celebrity status, whereby the press hung on to his every word. As well as detailing Einstein’s life, Walter Isaacson also does a sound job of explaining, in simplified terms, the background to much of Einstein’s scientific endeavours, including quantum physics, relativity, and his unsuccessful search for a unified field theory to unite gravitation with electromagnetism. I learned a lot about Einstein from this book and Isaacson brought him alive in terms of his personality.

⭐Other books by this author especially the Job’s biography are perhaps more readable. It can be sometimes lengthy as Isaacson describes in great details events taking place in Einstein’s life, documented it appears, to all the letters everyone at that time seemed to write to each other and keep forever.However this does give one a good idea how winning a Nobel prize can typically happen much later after the fact and how a noble prize winner can be immediately projected into fame at that time, especially in this case by the American population. We see this still today where an Nobel winner, an expert in a relatively small field, is asked to pronounce on so many world issues and to patronize so many causes. We still see this today.Let me add I bought a used, hardcover edition from Betterworldbooks via Amazon. It did arrived later than expected, in excellent condition. As I had already been refunded, they magnanimously agreed to make me a present of it! So I am more than happy to recommend them.

⭐Isaacson does an admirable job of making the incredibly complicated worlds of relativity and quantum mechanics accessible. He doesn’t shy away from engaging in these central aspects of Einstein’s life. But most importantly, he manages to make this a compelling human story. We get to know the genius and much of what made him tick, in the context of an era extending beyond two world wars.

⭐Easy to read but well-researched life of the great scientist, which made me whistle in astonishment at just how marvellous Einstein’s intuition was for the way the physical world works. Few human beings have been blessed with such incredible creativity, and this book brings that out in some detail and in ways that other biographies of Einstein I’ve read haven’t. The great man’s personal life was sometimes in rather a mess, but he comes across as a kindly – if detached – and sympathetic man. It’s rather sad that the development of quantum uncertainty left him behind.

⭐I thoroughly enjoyed Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs which encouraged me to read his biography of Einstein. Again, I found it a very enjoyable read. As one might expect, there is a lot about particle physics and despite Isaacson generally avoiding mathematical explanations, I must confess I didn’t follow all of it, but even the during parts I didn’t fully understand, my interest didn’t waver because it gave one a sense of the enormous intellectual challenges that Einstein was grappling with. There is also plenty about his personal life that was also interesting.

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