Product Description
Modesty, humor, compassion, and wisdom are the traits most evident in these personal papers, most of them never before published, from the Einstein archives. The illustrious physicist wrote as thoughtfully to an Ohio fifth-grader, distressed by her discovery that scientists classify humans as animals, as to a Colorado banker, who asked whether he believed in a personal God. Witty rhymes, and exchange about fine music with Queen Elizabeth of Belgium, and expressions of his devotion to Zionism are but some of the highlights found in this rare, warm enriching book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Human Side To Us All
With its brief 115 pages of social commentary and personal glimpses from his archives (and accompanying 46 pages in the original German) as selected by two of his closest associates-Helen Dukas and Banesh Hoffman, we get a better and at times an amazingly modest look into the everyday mind of Albert Einstein.
This is a quick read and one that will keep you nodding and smiling at the wisdom, humor, and social grace contained in its painfully few pages. From science we know his sense of genius, even if and when we don't readily understand the complexity of his theories. But with this book we get some timeless eloquence that holds up well today.
A brilliant scientist is able to dissect the secret workings of the universe while the gifted philosopher looks at the fragments of being and tries to make some sense of it all. With Albert Einstein we were fortunate enough to have gotten both.

Einstein, the Human side
It is so good now I want to buy his biography!

Einstein the mensch
Einstein's longtime secretary (1928-1955) Helen Dukas and Professor Banesh Hoffman who together had written a biography of Einstein here collect some of his correspondance, his very humane replies on a great variety of subjects.
The work is small but it does reveal Einstein's character. His humor and modesty and wisdom are everywhere in evidence. Einstein's writing often has an aphoristic quality, and there are many memorable sayings in the work.
A small sample of them follow:

" As for the search for truth ,I know from my own painful searching , with its many blind alleys, how hard it is to take a reliable step, be it ever so small, towards the understanding of that which is truly significant."

"With fame I become more and more stupid, which of course, is a very common phenomenon. There is far too great a disproportion between what one is, and what others think one is, or at least what they say they think one is.But one has to take it all with good humor"

"Where the world ceases to be the scene of our personal hopes and wishes, where we face it as free beings admiring, asking and observing, there we enter the realm of Art and Science. If what is seen and experienced is portrayed in the language of logic, we are engaged in science. If it is communicated through forms whose connections are not accessible to the conscious mind but recognized intuitively as meaningful ,then we are engaged in art.Common to both is the loving devotion to that which transcends personal concern and volition."

This volume touches upon many sides of Einstein, his humanitarianism, devotion to peace, his Zionism, his sense of the beauty that is to be revealed through the objective understanding ofthe universe."

The book takes the form of the questions his correspondents asked ( Most often given in paraphrased form by the authors of the book) and Einstein's responses to their questions.

If I had one question to ask him it would be, " How is it that it was given to one human being in one relatively short period of time to totally transformMankind's understanding of nature? Why do you think that you were the one given this miraculous power?
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

'like you or me but smarter and better in all ways'
not to say that einstein wasn't exceptionally clever, but i found the tone of this book to be leaning a bit to far to the 'worship einstein as a minor deity' side of things.any potential cause to think less of old albert is glossed over in an unapealing way. the examples that come to mind are the minimal treatment that poincare's accomplishments regarding relativity recieve, and the minimal information on his divorces.i wish the authors had stepped down from the altar of the holy einstein long enough to give him a human treatment.even the title is a bit much.creator and rebel?it would be funny if it weren't sadly earnest.

An intimate, personal biography.
I have read several biographies of Einstein, some of which are among my list of all-time favorite books. None however, approach the intimacy or sense of personal connection as Hoffmann and Dukas' 1972 classic"Creator and Rebel." Perhaps because of Helen Dukas' influence,this book contains perhaps the most intimate look at the man and, thanks toHoffmann, the one of the clearest explanations of his science. Though otherbiographies are also must-reads for Einstein devotees (Folsing and Frank,for instance), this one goes to the top of my list.

Einstein by very close collaborators
Why is this book so good? Its first phrase is:"We sketch in this bookthe story of a profoundly simple man." This could be done only byfriends. And friends the authors are. Banesh Hoffman, a collaborator ofEinstein's, happens to be a great writer, possibly the best as books forthe layman are concerned. Helen Dukas, the other author, was Einstein'ssecretary for many years. The book is very beautifully produced, full ofnice photographs. Relativity is really explained. A labor of love whichdeserves much more popularity.

A tour-de-force ofthe revolutionary physics of 1900-1935
One cannot seperate the man from his work and this biography branches into other people who touched upon A. Einstein aswell as his science.The incomparable simplicity of his brilliant thought is driven home in the discussion of AT-LAB and GRAV-LAB.The story may be known or not.It deserves good re-telling.This audio book is well done and special thanks to the reader who handles the math examples (less than a handful) with precise language, grace, and accuracy.My complaint is that the book is too short.I woud have liked more of the interaction with subject in his personal life.But still a solid 8. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A demonstration of how humble Albert Einstein was
The fact that Albert Einstein received letters from children does not surprise me; in my youth I wrote a few letters to famous scientists and begged my mother for the postage to send them. What is surprising is that in a few selected cases, Einstein wrote a reply. This book begins with a brief biography of Einstein and then contains a collection of letters written by children to Einstein as well as some of his responses.
The letters from the children are generally what you would expect a child to write, grammatically and in content. Many ask for his help in explaining topics and others simply want his autograph. What is touching is that he sometimes took time to respond and he deliberately made his answers short and at a level that the child could understand. The thought that this man, an incredible celebrity and the equivalent of a rock star would take the time to answer letters from children speaks volumes to his fundamental humility and kindness.
... Read more

Product Description
'Einstein was not only the ablest man of science of his generation, he was also a wise man, which is something different. If statesmen had listened to him, the course of human events would have been less disastrous than it has been.

This verdict, from the Preface by Bertrand Russell, sums up the importance of this first collection of Albert Einstein's writing on war, peace, and the atom bomb. In this volume, thanks to the Estate of Albert Einstein's writings on war, peace, and the atom bomb. In this volume, thanks to the Estate of Albert Einstein, the complete story is told of how one of the greatest minds of modern times worked from 1914 to 1955 on the problem of peace. It is a fascinating record of a man's courage, his sincerity, and his concern for those who survive him.

This book is also a history of the peace movement in modern times. Here are letters to and from some of the most famous men of his generation, including between Einstein and Freud on aggression and war, and to President Roosevelt reporting the theoretical possibility of nuclear fission. It is the living record of more than 40 years of Einstein's intriguing struggle to mobilize forces all over the world for the abolition of war and the creation of a supranational organization to solve conflicts among nations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Another great insight into the phenomenon that was Einstein
Einstein is famous for his monumental work on special and general relativity, but is not as well-known for his valiant efforts in the interest of world peace and good will among men. The editor hopes that this book will inspire us to do our own share for the cause of world peace. This is an excellent book, and provides a glimpse into the second thing that was close to Einstein's heart. ... Read more

Product Description
Billy Whitestone gets the assignment of a lifetime when his school paper sends him to interview Albert Einstein. But though the world-famous physicist loves children, he is also somewhat reluctant to be interviewed. How will Billy win him over?

Using child-friendly language and stunning oil paintings to engage young readers, this fictionalized biography offers a vivid account of the life and times, struggles and accomplishments of Albert Einstein — who is revealed as a mischievous and sometimes temperamental student in his own right. Based on archival photographs, Jacques Lamontagne's artwork draws readers into Einstein's world, while a handy historical timeline accompanies the story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A great research tool!
This innovative biography explores Albert Einstein's life and his ideas. As a teacher-librarian, I use this book to inspire my students to use interviewing skills when conducting research. What's the Matter with Albert? should be in every library.

Loved it!
I loved "What's the Matter with Albert?" I bought it as a gift for my 7 year old granddaughter Lauren, who loves to read. Before giving any book to her, I always make sure to read it first, so we can have phone discussions about it. (I am a long-distance grandma and she lives 3000 miles away.) This book was an excellent choice because of the lessons it will teach her.

I loved the way Billy found the courage to face his fears and conquer the challenge of interviewing a genius like Albert Einstein. I liked that it shows that it's okay to daydream, to think about life in a different way than the people around us think, and that if you face your fears, you can accomplish many things in life. There will always be people who feel that because someone thinks "outside of the box" or appears absent-minded, something is wrong with us.

I loved the childlike style of Billy's four questions and that the answers were actually in Einstein's own words. And I thought it was a good lesson to show that Billy was able to do further research and write another story on his own once Albert Einstein 'opened the door' to Billy's quest for knowledge.

This story will teach my granddaughter that our imagination is what makes us unique, that once you take the first step and just do your very best, you can accomplish great things, in spite of your fears.

On a personal level, I think I related to this story because as a child, I always felt "different" and didn't look at things in the same way as other kids did. I was a daydreamer, couldn't concentrate in school and often got into trouble because my mind wandered.

I wish I had been able to read this book when I was young - I'm sure it would have made me feel that it was okay to look at things differently, to ask questions, to always be curious. (I'm a cookbook author today, so I guess I succeeded in spite of myself!)

Thanks to the author for a wonderful book! I also loved the illustrations and the way they were integrated into the story. They remind me of Norman Rockwell's artistic style. Well done!

Norene Gilletz

Who would have known?
What a great book! The title and the Norman Rockwell like illustration of Eistein immediately caught my attention. What's The Matter With Albert? Who would have thought that this famous scientist, this amazing genious of the 20th century would have anything the matter with him. I loved the way the author tells us about all the struggles and difficulties the young Albert Einstein had as a student. I always figured the guy sailed through school, and that he likely graduated by age 12 and was then courted by major universities around the world. But no, Albert was asked to leave his school!
I thought this book shared some fascinating facts about Einstein's life in a cute and unintimidating way - a fictional character's (a cub reporter with the Princeton Elementary School News) interview with Albert Einstein. At the end of the interview the young reporter asks Albert four more questions. My favorite, and I hope the author doesn't mind me sharing this one, is "What makes you think up all those great ideas?" I loved Einstein's answer - "I use my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world". There are several great quotes from Einstein in the book.
I bought this book for two of my 8 year old nephews. I hope they will have as much fun reading it as I did and will be encouraged to let their imaginations fly and take them to all sorts of interesting thoughts and places.

Einstein -- A Child's View
In her wonderful new book, WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ALBERT? A STORY OF ALBERT EINSTEIN, author Frieda Wishinsky brings the Nobel Prize-winning scientist to life for young readers.

Billy, a shy young reporter for the school newspaper goes to interview Einstein to find out what he was like as a child. To his surprise, the great genius had lots of problems when he was a boy. Any child who has ever felt shy, inadequate or less than a star will relate to the young Einstein, who was late to talk, not a star in school, and subject to bursts of bad temper.

Wishinsky's style invites the reader to explore Einstein's world in a variety of interesting ways. These include the text of his final report on Einstein "When he Grew Up," a timeline of the important dates in his life and an excerpt from Billy's notebook, with answers in Einstein's actual words. For example, to the question "Why don't you wear socks?'", Einstein asnwers "When I was young I found out that the big toe always ends up making a hole in the sock. So I stopped wearing socks."

Children will find the man and the story irresistable. Told in clear, engaging prose and dialogue, WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ALBERT EINSTEIN? will delightall young readers. Jaques Lamontagne's illustrations of Einstein at different periods of his life will round out the familiar image of the frizzy-haired genius.

Frieda Wishinsky has added to the long list of books about Albert Einstein one that truly makes him accessible, and that will be treasured by children of all ages. ... Read more

Product Description
Albert Einstein tried to uncover a new vision of the world and the universe.. He came very close, giving a radically new shape to our understanding of nature and our dreams. His thinking and above all, his personality have continually fascinated scientists, historians, and philosophers: Albert Einstein has often been called the brightest man alive a Megabrain Yet very few people know what he actually discovered, or what kind of man he was.

Who was this little man with disheveled hair, this violin virtuoso who sometimes forgot to eat? Combining a captivating biography with photographs and documents, Who Was Albert Einstein? helps us understand the life and work of this uncommon man. A hundred years after Einstein first published his Special Theory of Relativity, Assouline invites the reader to witness the birth of a genius, and to follow him along the path of his many discoveries. ... Read more

Product Description
Everybody knows that Albert Einstein was the smartest scientist in the universe and that he also had some very bad hair days. But in this "Horribly Famous" title readers can find out everything they didn't know, including how Albert was actually expelled from school, and how he was spied on by the Nazis and the FBI. With Albert's lost notebook readers can at last get inside his super-brain, and in "The News of the Universe", they can get to grips with all his amazing theories without making their brains hurt. ... Read more

Product Description
The year 2005 marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of the paper that launched Einstein's career, made E=mc2 famous, and ushered in a revolution in science—the paper that announced the theory of special relativity. And there's no better short book that explains just what Einstein did than Einstein's Cosmos. Keying Einstein's crucial discoveries to the simple mental images that inspired them, Michio Kaku finds a revealing new way to discuss these ideas, and delivers an appealing and always accessible introduction to Einstein's work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Finally, I Can Grasp Einstein's Theories
After reading so much about Einstein I was looking for and hoping for a book that made his theories understandable. I found one: Michio Kaku's book. If you want an introduction to Einstein's theories I highly recommend this book.

One one of the best science books I've ever read. To make the complex understandable is quite a feat.

An amazing book
This book so riveting that I finished reading it one sitting. I would not share with you where I was sitting. I can only say that I created some inconvenience for rest of my family. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in science but not found someone to explain some of the principles in simple terms without resorting to scientific jargons.It is like a history book for evolution of quantum and relativistic theories.It is astonishing to see such a convolution of great minds occurred in early 19th century.Had it not been for Lorenz, Dirac, Max Born, Riemann, Minkowski the relativity theory would have come at least 50yrs later.This book give a chronolgy of Einstein's revelation of the mind of God from the language of abstract math.

Pretty Good Read about Einstein
Just finished the book Einstein's Cosmos, which is a great look into the life of the genius physicist Albert Einstein.

The book has lots of interesting facts about Einstein.Some that i remember: He was born in Germany but he had such a bad experience in his youth, he renounced his citizenship when he was 17

He was always brilliant. There's a myth that he wasn't that smart when he was young. Wrong. He read a Geometry book when he was 12 and LOVED it. Since then he devoured any physics and mathematics he could get his hand on. He hated classes where they wouldn't teach the "interesting topics of the day" and frequently got poor grades. But he was always smart.

One little tidbit i loved hearing about is that he was a total ladies man. In High School ALL the girls wanted to talk to him b/c he had such a funny personality. He was a witty guy - always cracking jokes and having fun. Bottom line: Albert was a stud and had his pick of chicks when he was in college.

Another little interesting piece of gossip - he got his main college girlfriend pregnant but she had moved away and the baby died when it was 3. He eventually had another child with her and paid alimony with his Nobel Prize money. But, as he because more famous and busier, they drifted apart and he moved to Germany, she stayed in Switzerland - leading to eventual divorce. He then became very close to his cousin Elsa, who he later married. From the book it seems that they were a great couple - He the absent-minded disheveled thinker and shethe pretty put-together socialite. His tours around the world would have been impossible without her.

The book follows his behavior during the wars, his refusal to support Germany during WWI and his endangerment as a prominent Jew - eventually moving to the states and living at Princeton.

The physics is all easy to understand language. All the cosmic questions that stem from relativity - including the puzzling worm-hole questions are all lined up. I found it a great to read before bedtime book due to the mind benders.

If you're looking to know more about Albert - this is definitely a quick and interesting book.

An easy read.
The professor, Michio Kaku, has easily become one of my favorite authors. That Einstein was the greatest scientist of the past century there's no doubt. And the author in addition to being a physicist is able to explain, in a warm, and caring way, how Einstein pictured, in his mind, what eventually became his theory of special relativity. But there's more; Prof. Kaku provides us a glimpse of the life, thoughts, frustrations, and accomplishments of Einstein the man as well. An easy, and interesting read for sure.

Einstein For The Rest of Us
Physicists will already be acquainted with nearly everything in this book. For the rest of us, Professor Kaku provides a comfortably woven account of Einstein's personal and professional life. While nearly everyone is familiar with the famous scientist's reputation, few know much about him as a man or his incredible body of work. Einstien's humanity and self-deprecating humor only add to his charm. Surprising to me was his dogged, single-minded pursuit of the solution to relativity. His determination nearly ruined his health and his relationship to his family.

This is a wonderful book for the general reader. No special knowledge of science or physics is needed to thoroughly enjoy it. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
This brilliantly written book unlocks the astounding implications of Einstein's revolutionary theories on the nature of science, time and motion.It far surpasses any previous explanation of Relativity for laymen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Dissenting View
Most of the reviews of this book are 4 or 5 stars. I gave it 2 stars, which means not recommended.

Early in the book the author tells us he did not feel compelled to go in chronological order as many treatments of Einstein do. I have no problem with that. But I found the order he did use perplexing. Instead of hooking the reader with the famous puzzling clock examples (e.g. traveling around the galaxy and back), he delves into the fact that clocks run at different rates when the gravity field changes.

The explanations are not vivid or full. Worse, the explanations appear to be designed to include readers who have NO math knowledge. The author actually apologizes when he mentions that gravity decreases with the inverse square of distance.

An irony: in my opinion, the time-gravity examples he uses require a more sophisticated reader to evaluate more difficult and less interesting ideas than the more famous examples.

Yet the author seems to think ANY math is too much. But he does not set the stage by explaining the elementary ideas of velocity, acceleration, or Newton's laws.

I'd suggest looking elsewhere for insight. And frankly, if you have not had at least a little physics--say in high school--I am not sure you will understand relativity or Einstein's contributions to gravity no matter how many articles or books you read. You might consider reading a primer on basic physics before tackling Einstein.

But regardless, there are much more compelling (and enjoyable) treatments available than this one.

Relatively Speaking
Writing from the viewpoint of a lay person, with little other background in this area, I can only say that this book is great...relatively speaking!

The reader is guided through Einstein's thought cosmos in this easy to read, short and mercifully unmathematical book. The book only has a page of simple math. The book has the same quality as much of C.S.Lewis' writing, in paricular "The Four Loves,"The Four Loves in that it fits into the catagory of the "simple read" with layers of nuances that left me with the feeling that even if I understood what I read, I never really understood it to the gut.

Space time, singularity, red shift, time travel (future only) are interesting concepts that kept my workmates and I talking when we should have been more productive, yet none faulted me for giving them a copy of this book. Cosmology discussion is a bit weak in "Einstein's Universe," but didn't Einstein avoid the Big Bang?. The empirical proofs for relativity in this book quickly silenced scoffers during my workplace coffee breaks.

Most of us will probably never live to travel to the stars (the speed of light being the maximum speed),yet this book is a pathway to the stars that many of us can take!Pathway to the stars

UNDERSTANDING AN IMPORTANT WORLDVIEW
The book "EINSTEIN'S UNIVERSE" by NIGEL CALDER is a very good choice as a primer, not simly to learn facts, but to understand the intricate and conclusive ways of thinking of the genius ALBET EINSTEIN, whom our world owes so much. The chapters are clearly anounced by their titles, and each chapter starts with a summery of fife lines, wich can also be rered after
finishing the chapter for personal confirmation, but also, if the reader
is looking for some item long after he read the book.
As the book is written in an easy to read english, i enjoyed its reading very much.

Good, but not the best, and a little outdated
I though that Calder did an excellent job of simplifying relativity theory, which I suppose was his goal.I found myself wishing that he had not simplified quite so much, and explained WHY things happen instead of WHAT happens, as he tends to do sometimes.In addition to that, this book is a little behind the times when it comes to theories (though Calder can hardly be blamed for that, seeing as he wrote it before these new theories were developed).Overall, it is a good introduction to relativity theory, very easy to understand, but you will probably need another deeper book or two to really get a grasp on it.

The Universe Made Simple? Fascinating!
How does one go about taking our immense universe--with all its galaxies, quasars, neutron stars, etc.--and put it into words that a high school senior could understand? Not only that, but include all of Albert Einstein's mind boggling theories on the universe and still make it interesting to read?

Ladies and gentleman, I give you Einstein's Universe. A book written by Nigel Calder. Mr. Calder delves deep into the inner workings of two of the most complex things known to man, the universe and Einstein's brain. He does so with great confidence, writing in the first person, as if it were Einstein himself explaining his theories. This leads to a feeling of intimacy while reading about the creation of the universe and many other topics related to the giant realm we call home. Nigel Calder does a superb job of presenting the theories and the evidence, and then always proceeding to explain how it all fits together.

If you've got a hankerin' for something juicy sweet to read, and enjoy pondering the ways of the great big black thing way up there, I highly recommend Einstein's Universe. Enjoy! ... Read more

Product Description
In 1921, five years after the appearance of his comprehensive paper on general relativity and twelve years before he left Europe permanently to join the Institute for Advanced Study, Albert Einstein visited Princeton University, where he delivered the Stafford Little Lectures for that year. These four lectures constituted an overview of his then controversial theory of relativity. Princeton University Press made the lectures available under the title The Meaning of Relativity, the first book by Einstein to be produced by an American publisher. As subsequent editions were brought out by the Press, Einstein included new material amplifying the theory. A revised version of the appendix "Relativistic Theory of the Non-Symmetric Field," added to the posthumous edition of 1956, was Einstein's last scientific paper.Amazon.com Review
In 1921, a young Albert Einstein traveled to America to give four lectures at Princeton University, paving the way for a more complete acceptance of his theory of general relativity.These lectures are published together asThe Meaning of Relativity, and were revised with each new editionuntil Einstein's death.Despite Einstein's profession that he thoughtwithout using words, his examples and descriptions of the relativisticworld he perceived are clear and easy to follow.Unfortunately fornontechnical readers, his presentation requires deep diversions intomathematics often enough to break up the flow of his narrative, and theymay find this rough terrain.But for the mathematically sophisticated orthe devoted scientific historian, these lectures are profoundlyilluminating--Einstein's bright, quiet genius shines through in thesimplicity and economy of his writing. Two appendices follow the lectures:the first covers advances and experimental verifications after 1921; thesecond, "Relativistic Theory of the Non-Symmetric Field," was Einstein'slast scientific paper. The Meaning of Relativity documents arevolution in progress and yields to the careful student deeper truths thanthose found in physics textbooks.--Rob Lightner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Foundation of relativity
This is an almost complete description of Einstein thoughts and motivations into special and general relativity along with some extra material about tensors and finally Einstein's thoughts on grand unification...
My opinion is that the book has large historical value along with some deep philosophical insights
The only minus is that mathematical formalism is out of date(along with some ideas) and surely this is not the best book to learn relativity,but can serve as an exceptional supplement for deep understanding of the subject

Einstein's derivation of relativity in 120 pages
This is not a plain English explanation of relativity to the layman. (For that, check out "Relativity: The Special and the General Theory") It is a short and sweet summary of the thinking behind and derivation of relativity in a little over 100 short pages. The target audience is physicists and mathematicians. Actually, it is probably best if you have studied relativity and differential geometry in a textbook first before tackling this one. I don't think you can learn the basics of relativity or differential geometry from this book if it's your first encounter with the subjects.

However, if you have the mathematical maturity, you will really find the "essence" of relativity in this book. As the originator of the relativity theory, Einstein can explain it like no other. After his explanation, you will wonder why no one else thought about it in this fashion, as he shows you why physics has to work this way.The key philosophical underpinnings are: (a) invariance of physics under coordinate transformations, as physical laws have to be the same no matter where/when the observations are made; and the Euclidean coordinate transformation as an simple result from classical geometry.This establishes relativity as a theory of invariants which makes the development philosophically sound and much more accessible; (b) the equivalence of all inertial reference frames (Galilean principle) and why the constancy of the speed of light occupies a central place in special relativity (the impossibility of instant communication); the results of special relativity are then derived with ease from the invariance of line segments in 4-space time; (c) the equivalence principle (the absolute equivalence of the gravitational mass and inertial mass) as the tool to remove the non-inertial reference frame as a special case.Frankly, one of the biggest confusions in special relativity was the fact that inertial reference frames are singled out as special, and yet there is no concrete proof of any kind that certain reference frames are inertial as we all know that the earth is not an inertial reference frame.In Einstein's own words: "...the general theory of relativity, ...such a superiority of conception over classical mechanics, that all the difficulties encountered must be considered as small in comparison with this progress."

With that, the mathematics (while not easy) fills in the blanks on how to get there. And Einstein's derivation was elegant and insightful. However, it is still the value of his insights and incisive understanding of the fundamental problems stand make it such a book to read.It is like comparing his derivation of length contraction and time dilation with that of Lorentz's.After reading this book, you will "understand" relativity.

A dense, but brilliant, collection of lectures
Laymen, such as myself, are familiar with the equation e=mc2; yet how many of us non-scientists actually know what this means?Einstein explains this in a series of four lectures.While the explaination is clear, the mathematics behind it (and the implications of relativity theory) are far from easy for the layperson to understand.

The first section on space and time in pre-relativity physics provides the foundation for exactly why his theories are so revolutionary.I was able to digest this without much difficulty.The real challenges (for me at least) began with his explaination of special and general relativity - that space, time and light are dependent on each other, and in fact are (hence the name) all relative ... a real mind-bender.Sadly, I was unable to make it through the second half of the lecture on general relativity - too abstract for one who is not a scientist by training or vocation.

Nonetheless it is a worthwhile (if difficult) read.For those who are weak in mathematics (Euclidian geometry or below) much of the details will be incomprehensable; don't let this dissuade you - part of the genius of Einstein is his ability to explain what the mathematics proves.A seminal work in science, and highly recommended for those with the patience, training or deeply committed interest in the subject.

A Classic Collection
This book is an excellent collection of 'lectures' by Einstein himself and present the 'eventual' form of the Special & General Theories of Relativity (as in the 1950s). A handy accompaniment to undergraduate study in relativity, the book is a *mathematical* exposition into its broad features - and is NOT by any means a popular/lay account of what the theories mean. The title of the book may be a little dis-orienting in this regard - but the subtitle should lay to rest any doubts!

Einstein starts with pre-relativity physics formulated in the language of tensors and moves on to present the Special Theory using the same apparatus. The next two chapters delve really deep into the philosophy of the General Theory (GR) complete with equations. The Appendices are further advanced topics in GR - and may be of interest only to graduate students.

For a non-physicist like me, with a sufficent background in the requisite mathematics and some prior exposure to the topic, this book was a real treat. It is a classic well worth its place in a personal library. This book is, however, not recommended for those who are looking for something along the lines of Hawkings' A Brief History of Time.

The Meaning of Relativity by Albert Einstein
Einstein's theory seeks to unite time, space and impliedly
distance and light phenomena into a rational set of equations which are congruent to the Euclidian geometry. In essence,
the concept of time is meaningless except in relation to
light . Without light, there would be no reference point
for measuring distance in space because the whole area would
be dark and unidentifiable for scientific measurement and
comparison purposes. The use of the volumetric triple integral
seeks to make a measurement on 3-planes.i.e. x,y and z
Later in the work, Einstein explains that the laws of
configuration of rigid bodies with respect to K' do not agree
with the laws of configuration of rigid bodies that are
in accordance with Euclidean geometry. He provides an example
wherein two similar clocks rotate simultaneously on the
periphery and the center of a circle, then judged from K- the
clock on the periphery will go slower than the clock at the
center. He explains this difference as the result of the
gravitational field influence as determinants in the metric
laws of the space and time continuum. What happens when the
clocks are in a perfect vacuum? In addition, time travel is
a function of how light travels. Finite differences in the
radii of the clocks (periphery and center) imply distances with
slight changes in respect to the time light takes to travel
from one end of the radii (periphery or center) to the other.
In the Riemann Tensor, Einstein depicts an amorphous masse
dependent upon the path of displacement. The outline of the
masse approximates a square so that the area or volume is
determinate by approximation to the closest geometric form
to the amorphous massei.e.a square

On page 92, Einstein states that the rate of a clock is slower
the greater is the masse of the ponderable matter in the
neighborhood. This comports with the theory and computation
of inertia. As the base and height increases, the inertial
computation is geometrically greater in accordance with the
formulas of inertia [ ((b x h^3)/12)]. In the discussion of
Mach, Einstein states that the inertia of a body must increase
when ponderable masses are piled in the neighborhood. This is
proven by computing inertia utilizing more massive bases and
heights. As the base and height increases, the inertial
computation is geometrically greater thereby proving that the
inertia of a body must increase when ponderable masses are
piled up in the neighborhood.

Einstein discusses the theory of Mach in relation to inertia
and the mutual action of bodies. The actual measurement of
Mach has at least 3 different levels; namely, subsonic,
sonic and supersonic measurements

Einstein argues that the hypothesis that the universe is
infinite and Euclidean at infinity is complicated from the
relativistic point of view. The universe expands and contracts .
Accordingly, the nature tends to approximate non-Euclidean
or quasi-Euclidean objects in the evolution toward the
expansive and infinite state which Einstein postulates as
potentially Euclidean in order.

Einstein argues against an infinite space by stating:

" 1. From the standpoint of the theory of relativity , to postulate a closed universe is very much simpler than to postulate the corresponding boundary condition at infinity
of the quasi-Euclidian structure of the universe.

2. The idea that Mach expressed, that inertia depends upon the mutual action of bodies, is contained, to a first approximation,
in the equations of the theory of relativity; it follows from these equations that inertia depends, at least in part upon
mutual actions between masses.

3. An infinite universe is possible only if the mean density
of matter in the universe vanishes. Although such an assumption is logically possible, it is less probable than the assumption that there is a finite mean density of matter in the universe."

Critique:

The idea of a closed universe is simpler. It comports with experience. For instance, why does Haley's Comet return every
75 years. The idea of an infinite universe would imply the existence of a less dense outer-superstructure. As objects hurled in space, they would be drawn into the less dense regions. The idea of a bounded universe implies a boundary
to ricochet speeding objects. Otherwise, every speeding object
would continue into an infinite universe with a denseless
path of space.

To prove the third postulate, scientists must have better information on the mean density at the outer edges of the universe. Does density remain constant or does it evaporate
with greater distances toward the universe boundary regions?
If a boundary exists as postulated in the finite universe,
what is the boundary? Is the boundary a wall in space?
If so, what exists beyond the wall? At the corners of the universe, what structures exist to modulate areas of higher
density and less density or infinitestimal density?
In addition, there is a theory of an expanding universe.
How does the universe expand and what outer region accomodates
this expansion. The idea of an expanding universe admits to
an expanding boundary. Again, this poses the earlier question.
i.e. There must be free space to accomodate an expanding
universe. Is this free space dense or denseless.

This concept is similar to a computer gigobyte superstructure.
Users can define different regions on the computer disc.
These regions consist of utilized space and free space.
Conceptually, the universe may be seen in the same way.
It consists of both bounded and unbounded space. ... Read more

Product Description
Volume 1 presents important new material on the young Einstein. Over half the documents made available here were discovered by the editors, including a significant group of over fifty letters that Einstein exchanged with Mileva Maric, his fellow student and future wife. These letters, together with other previously unpublished documents, provide an entirely new view of Einstein's youth. The documents in the volume also foreshadow the emergence of his extraordinary creative power. In them is manifested his intense commitment to scientific work and his interest in certain themes that proved to be central to his thinking during the next decade. We can follow, for example, the beginnings of his preoccupation with the electrodynamics of moving bodies that was to lead to the development of this special theory of relativity. For the first time it can be seen how closely he followed such contemporary developments in physics as Planck's work on radiation theory and Drude's work on the electron theory of metals. In addition to all of Einstein's known correspondence and other writings from this period, the volume includes the relevant portions of all third-party letters and other contemporary documents that provide additional information about his secondary schooling at the Aargau Cantonal School; his four years at the Swiss Federal Plytechnical School, or the ETH; and his search for a job after graduation. Included in the volume are those sections of an unpublished biography by Einstein's sister, Maja Winteler-Einstein, which deal with his early years; his extensive notes on a physics course he took at the ETH; and previously unpublished photographs of the young Einstein and his teachers and friends.

Documents in Volume 1 portray Einstein's experiences during the two stressful years after his graduation from the ETH in Zurich. Denied a position as an Assistant at the ETH, he lived a hand-to-mouth existence while he looked for a post at other universities; then he attempted to find a secondary-school post, and finally sought a nonacademic job. Tension with his parents over his plans to marry Mileva Maric is evident throughout this period. With the help of a friend, he finally found work at the Swiss Patent Office, the haven where he would spend the next seven years. Freed from his financial worries, he entered on one of the most productive periods of his life, as the next volume, Writings (1901-1910), will document. ... Read more

Product Description
In a remarkable collection of essays the renowned scientist speaks on a variety of moral, political, social and religious issues revealing the workings of a powerful mind and deeply humane sensibility. Includes his lucid explanation of the theory of relativity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great stuff on a variety of topics
I personally liked his writing about ethics the most perhaps, but this book gives a glimpse into the mind of a truly brilliant man on a variety of topics.This books shows that his intellect was not limited to describing the universe, but also included understanding humanity and nothing short of the "meaning of life." His position on "belief" is made quite clear, on the basis of ethics, and other interesting topics.Also some interesting articles/papers about scientific topics.

As poignant and nostalgic as the man himself
I bought this book in my early twenties still unsure of what to do with my life but at least certain of the fundamentals and morals with which one should follow.Einsteins prose on life, morality, religion, science, personalities are words which echo the wisdom of many years and the experiences which have shaped them.Now, 7 years later, I pick up this book, and am reminded of a man who knew that the future is uncertain, but with the the search for truth and compassion, it could be a great place.

This book is a great read - I admire how a man who's thoughts were so complicated, yet simple at the same time.He did not forget where he came from , nor forgot that which is truly significant.And that which drives humanity is not in the theories of relativity, but in our simple acts of humanity.

This book encompasses an era of 1934 - 1950, yet its prose is timeless - even now! Occum's razor wuld be proud.

Einstein on Convictions, Science, Peace, Socialism, etc.
Einstein was not just a famous scientist.As this book reveals, he was also a profound and well-written author.The essays in this collection are enlightening, easily understood, and brief but to the point.I would recommend this book to everyone. ... Read more

Product Description
This collection was designed for optimal navigation on Kindle and other electronic devices. All books included in this collection feature a hyperlinked table of contents and footnotes. The collection is complimented by an author biography.

Table of Contents:

Customer Reviews (1)

The worlds greatest mind
Works of Albert Einstein: On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies, Relativity: The Special and General Theory, Sidelights on Relativity, Dialog about Objections ... & more. Published by MobileReference (mobi)

For the dedicated reader, for whom learning is a mission, and who has learned his high school Math and Physics, this is an excellent ebook. It gives the dedicated and prepared reader the chance to interact with one of the greatest minds of all time. ... Read more

Product Description
This collection of quotes, by and about Einstein, is arranged according to theme. Subjects covered include America, Germany, politics, and love and marriage. The book contains a chronology including biographical data, an updated family tree, and answers to the most common questions about Einstein.Amazon.com Review
The Quotable Einstein is a complete compendium of quotes from the great physicist, organized thematically, usefully indexed, and thorough in its inclusion and documentation of attributed material, sources, and dates.As a resource for the Einstein scholar or hardcore fan, The Quotable Einstein will prove invaluable.As a book for browsing, it puts the profound thoughts of Einstein on topics scientific and spiritual beside the mundane mutterings of any normal biped. This juxtaposition emphasizes both the man's unique genius and his common humanity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

I read it cover to cover in one afternoon
I think Einstein is the most fabulous man of all times, and his personality always continues to baffle me.He is anything but predictable, and if you think he is the very dry, overly technical, personification of ascience nerd and crazy genius, you are WRONG.

Get to know Al personallywith this book; I promise you won't have any regrets.I admire Einsteinwholeheartedly, and I have been an Einstein enthusiast since 1990.Whenother teens' rooms were plastered with posters of cute furry kitty cats andteen heartthrobs, my room was plastered with photos and posters ofEinstein.Not because I was, by any means, the nerdy science-type or anastrophysics enthusiast, but merely because "to know Albert Einsteinis to love him."He has a great personality, and it is my sincerehope that the world will come to know as the goofy guy he really was.

Italso serves to remind me of the great men and women who were tragicallylost in the Holocaust.Where would this world be had Albert Einstein diedin a concentration camp?We must never forget.

In summary, my favoriteEinstein quote... "The most incomprehensible thing about the universeis that it is comprehensible."Viva Einstein!!

A great way to get at Einstein's personality.
To think that, quite possibly the worlds greatest mind, was delivered to the world in such a wonderfully absurd package is truly fantastic.This book is a great way to introduce yourself to the personal points of view of one of the worlds truly great men.A collection of insights andobservations, which were more often than not, a surprise.

Find out what he really said!
The quickest and best way I've found to counter those who say, "Ithink Einstein said...".Full of insights into the mind of good ol'Albert. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Albert Einstein
This book is one of 24 "History Maker Bios" that do a very nice job of providing attractively packaged and well-written information to the grade school student. They are especially appealing for those second-through-fourth grade biography book reports that kids are always assigned in school. Also, it must be noted that the binding is particularly strong and well suited for library use. This volume on Albert Einstein is designed in a kid-friendly format, using lots of photos, illustrations, and good use of color and white space. The author presents an upbeat style and interesting anecdotes (Einstein refused to wear socks, even to visit President Roosevelt) to move along the possible difficulties a child would have with the scientific explanations of Einstein's theories. Recommended for ages 7-10.
Reviewed by Lisa Silverman ... Read more

Product Description
Mileva Maric was a remarkable woman by any measure. One of the firstwomen to study physics at a European university, she met and fell in love with a young physicistwhose revolutionary theories would shortly transform our understanding of the universe. Mileva'smarriage to Albert Einstein and the birth of their three children (the first, Lieserl, was born beforethe two were married) derailed her career as a physicist. Ensuing marital difficulties also threwMileva into a severe depression for years after she and Albert separated in 1916 and divorcedthree years later. The subject of much speculation on the part of Einstein biographers, Mileva'slife has remained shrouded in mystery and half-truth.

In Albert's Shadow, a treasure trove of seventy previously unpublished letters and cardswritten by Mileva to Helene Savic, an intimate friend from her university days, brings Mileva'slife and marriage into focus more sharply than ever before. Edited and introduced by HeleneSavic's grandson, Milan Popovic, this revealing and often touching epistolatary biography offersa new and less-than-flattering perspective on the private life of Albert Einstein and provides acompelling portrait of a supportive and brilliant woman whose world-famous husband betrayedher deep affections. Deftly placed into their biographical and historical context by Popovic, theseletters draw an intriguing picture of intellectual life in Europe at the beginning of the twentiethcentury.

Through Mileva's letters—and the notes Albert appended to them—Popovic charts the course ofMileva's life and her relationship with Albert, from their happy years through their divorce and toMileva's troubled life after Albert. Mileva's letters describe their mutual infatuation; her strainedrelations with Albert's parents, who opposed the marriage; and her experiences at university.Shortly after their marriage in 1903, Mileva slowly comes to realize that science has a greaterhold on Albert's attention than she does, and her tragic letters to Helene after 1909 lay bare heranguish at his growing distance (a situation made worse by Albert's secret affair with his cousinElsa). After the divorce, Mileva's letters chronicle the depression with which she struggled forthe rest of her life, and describe the lives of her and Albert's two surviving children, the youngestof whom, Eduard, had developed schizophrenia. The letters end in 1940 with Europe at war.Although Helene Savic died four years later, the correspondence she and her family preservednow offer unprecedented insights into the life of the twentieth century's greatest mind and thetragic story of his tormented first wife. ... Read more

Product Description
The theory of relativity, explained by the greatest mind of the 20th century. Albert Einstein discusses the special and general theories of relativity, and the core concepts of modern cosmology, including time dilation, the spacetime continuum, and the energy-mass relationship, in simple non-mathematical terms. ... Read more