Einstein: His Life and Universe
by Walter Isaacson
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Book Reviews of Einstein: His Life and Universe
Book Review: Insightful and wonderfully written: a page-turner
Summary: 5 Stars
Walter Isaacson writes history so that it reads like an excellent, exciting novel. This biography is a page-turner.
Moreover, the author writes with subtle humor and great insight.
Isaacson's research is accurate and extensive, which makes it even more amazing that the book does not have the format of a history textbook.
This biography of Albert Einstein is filled with stories of a love affair, dear friendship, a failed marriage, his first wife's ruined career, his childhood insights, how the job at the patent office provided inspiration, his marriage to a first cousin who was also a second cousin, his family, his homes, his political and religious views, and his need for help with the mathematics related to his theoretical physics. We feel as if we know Albert Einstein personally as we read Isaacson's words.
Science is blended effortlessly with these tales of his personal life. Moreover, we learn so much along the way, painlessly and joyfully.
Every word is carefully selected; nothing needs to be cut.
Isaacson's grammar is perfect, which is extremely refreshing. Many modern authors cause me to believe that I should have a red pen to correct grammatical errors while reading their works.
Walter Isaacson's book on Benjamin Franklin is also absolutely wonderful, with similar qualities. (Hence my review of that book is similar to this review.)
Recently, some psychologists have labeled Einstein posthumously as autistic, suffering from Asperger's syndrome. Others strongly disagree with this diagnosis, and Isaacson recognizes Einstein as a genius who enjoyed the company of other people and reveled in his fame.
Book Review: If you like History, but aren't a Physicist, this book is for you.
Summary: 5 Stars
If you don't know much about Albert Einstein and probably aren't going to get a PhD in Physics anytime soon, but want to know more about this historical figure, this is certainly the book for you.
I found Issacson's easygoing writing style to be very helpful during the discussions on Einstein's relativity theory and his philosophical battle against the randomness in emerging Quantum mechanics. In truth, one cannot understand this great man without some knowledge of these areas of physics, though a typical reader won't want to understand their entirety.
In addition to his genius, it was wonderful to learn about Einstein's astounding curiosity, his perseverance towards an academic career, his steadfast rejection of nationalism, his incredibly simple approach to his personal life, and his commitment to the idea that everything in nature has a purpose and an underlying structure- that "God doesn't play dice".
At the same time, Einstein was a man, and he had many shortcomings. It was particularly discouraging to learn about his failings as a husband and as a father. His outspoken naiveté regarding global politics also remind the reader of today's society where celebrities in one field often feel the power/right to voice their opinions in another where they have little in the way of training or expertise.
I found his assessment of America in a letter to his son, particularly timely, paraphrasing: "in America everything is mass produced, even lunacy. But at the same time, everything fades away very quickly."
This is a book that is for mature readers due to it's length, some of it's subject matter and some language.
Book Review: An Excellent New Portrait
Summary: 5 Stars
Enough time has passed that a popular book was perhaps needed to turn the icon back into the man. It is a challenge to say something new about Einstein the man, and perhaps it is enough for Isaacson to shine the light of inquiry at a few new angles. Purists will appreciate the copious footnoting, but most readers will just enjoy letting the author present the material in an orderly, clear, and engaging manner. It is not possible to read the book (and enjoy the old photos) without feeling that you have made at least a good acquaintance with Prof. Einstein.
In my distant youth, I was led to believe that only a few elite scientists actually understood Einstein's major theoretical breakthroughs, but this author is able to explain them well enough to the layman reader that he or she won't feel entirely left out. The book may inspire a few to pick up the quest for a unified field theory, but for most of us the effect will be simply a greater understanding and appreciation of the individual, his times, and his many important impacts on our world. It is particularly interesting to watch the essentially pacifist scientists with a "world citizen" viewpoint confront the irrefutable evil of the persecution and murder of Jew and others. Ultimately, however, Einstein proves that nobody is a genius at everything (including affairs of the heart), and he never seems to realize the implicit danger in one-world government.
I see this book as having great value to anyone with deep roots in the 20th century, but even more value to young people (high school or older) who need to understand Einstein's life and times as context for today's world.
Book Review: Einstein and "der Depperte" and Echolalia
Summary: 5 Stars
Einstein: His Life and UniverseRefer to page 8: Einstein was considered "der Depperte" and "almost backwards" as a young child especially in regards to expressive language. "He had difficulty with language that those around him feared he would never learn." Isaacson explained this, (page 9) "But throughout his life, Einstein had a mild form of echolalia, causing him to repeat phrases to himself, two or three times, especially if they amused him." Assigning a psychiatric disorder to Einstein, Echolalia, (refer to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association) is highly problamtic. First, echolalia is a disorder of childhood only; there is no such disorder in adulthood. Second, Einstein, himself, answered this issue. "I very rarely think in words at all,..." "A thought comes, and I may try to express it in words afterwards." (page 9) "And he generally preferred to think in pictures, most notably in famous thought experiments, such as imagining watching lightning strikes from a moving train or experiencing gravity while inside a falling elevator." (page 9) Einstein probably began thinking in pictures at a very young age, thus the difficulty of translating the pictures into expressive language. This is not a form of echolalia because echolalia is a disorder in which the child repeats long phrases heard from others in the environment. I spend my review time on this issue that takes up 2 of 551 pages. The other 549 pages were some of the most interesting, informative, and superbly researched.Book Review: listen to the audiobook, I'm sure glad I did!
Summary: 3 Stars
Warning: this review is going to take an initial side step, as I first post a quick confession. I attempted to read this book in 2008 and somewhere within the first two or three chapters I just gave up on it. More recently, I have read several positive reviews and I have decided that my first, flinched reaction might have been caused by the old "kick-the-dog" effect. Out of displaced anger, I often vicariously kick the ass of an unfortunate book. I'll wrongly declare and pathetically whine, "...this book was just too hard for me" or simply, "...this book sucks!" Did it really suck? I don't know, I jumped too early! Once I banish a book in a fit or in a funk, I rarely take it back. Einstien is an exception. This time around, I chose to listen to the unabridged audiobook and I'm sure glad I did. I doubt very much that I would have had the tenacity to physically skim through the cornerstones of quantum mechanics and general relativity that Einstien (and Isaacson) so clearly laid before us. As an audio book, Edward Herman (an exceptional orator) diligently marches on allowing the listener to painlessly phase out and phase back in to catch up with Einstein's next big life event. Issaacson's biography presents a colorful personal portrait of a true genius that changed mankind's understanding of the universe. Outside of Einstein brilliant mind and early accomplishment, he was just like the best and the worst of us. This was a fine book, but I must confess, if I physically read it, I would have whined about it. Whiny readers be warned!