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Einstein: His Life and Universe
Einstein: His Life and Universe
Einstein: His Life and Universe
Audiobook21 hours

Einstein: His Life and Universe

Written by Walter Isaacson

Narrated by Edward Herrmann

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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About this audiobook

Winner of the 2008 Audie Award for Biography/Memoir

The definitive, internationally bestselling biography of Albert Einstein. Now the basis of Genius, the ten-part National Geographic series on the life of Albert Einstein, starring the Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Award–winning actor Geoffrey Rush as Einstein.

How did his mind work? What made him a genius? Isaacson’s biography shows how Einstein’s scientific imagination sprang from the rebellious nature of his personality. His fascinating story is a testament to the connection between creativity and freedom. Einstein 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.

Einstein, the classic #1 New York Times bestseller, is a brilliantly acclaimed account of the most influential scientist of the twentieth century, “an illuminating delight” (The New York Times). The basis for the National Geographic series Genius, by the author of The Innovators, Steve Jobs, and Benjamin Franklin, this is the definitive biography of Albert Einstein.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateApr 10, 2007
ISBN9780743561396
Author

Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson is the bestselling author of biographies of Jennifer Doudna, Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, and Albert Einstein. He is a professor of history at Tulane and was CEO of the Aspen Institute, chair of CNN, and editor of Time. He was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2023. Visit him at Isaacson.Tulane.edu.

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Reviews for Einstein

Rating: 4.641577060931899 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

279 ratings57 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Now, this is exactly what a biography should be. It's through, lucid, and well-organized, and covers the personal, scientific, and political aspects of Einstein's life in a balanced and interesting fashion. It's well-written, featuring some pleasingly apt turns of phrase, but, commendably, Isaacson never lets his own voice overwhelm that of his subject. The scientific concepts behind Einstein's work are well-presented, too, in a way that carefully avoids any of the all-too-common popular misinterpretations but shouldn't prove too overwhelming for the layman. And, of course, it's about a brilliant and fascinating man. Definitely recommended if a biography of Einstein is something you feel even remotely interested in reading.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Similar to Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs, this biogrpahy of Einstein, written four years earlier, is pleasingly similar. It's comprehensive and insighful with just the right balance of insight into physics and mathematics and Einstein's personal life. It was quite surprising to learn that most, if not all of Einstein's brilliant theories were developed before he was 30, yet his fame only increased as the years progressed. Though not a scientist, one can see why Isaacson chose Jobs as a next subject. They had very similar fame and celebrity from pure technical genius, and in Jobs' case, business genius as well..?

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This another book that I have a hard time reviewing. Isaacson is an outstanding writer who certainly knows how to tell a story. However, I was simply not gripped by this one. Even with the layman's breakdown, I still had a hard time following much of the science explanations dealing with Einstein and his ideas. Also, I did not care at all for Einstein the person. I felt he was condescending toward women and terrible to women closest to him. He never even met his first child and was distant and incredibly selfish in his attitude toward his other children. I know he did great things in science and was a cultural icon for his time, but I could not get past how little he cared for his family.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It's a little strange to read a biography of Albert Einstein, if only because he's such a larger-than-life figure that it seems as though we already know all about him. So I guess what I found most amusing about this book is just how accurate those preconceptions are. Genius? Check. Kind, charming, absent-minded professorial type? Check. Outsider and scientific rebel? Check.

    Don't get me wrong, though. There's more to the man than the archetype, although the book doesn't dig too deeply. His distant relationships with friends and family, for example, are not something I ever would have imagined, although this makes sense when you think about it. It was also interesting to realize that aside from his miracle year of 1905 and his discovery of the general theory of relativity a decade or so later, he spent more time being wrong than right. On the one hand, this is just a consequence of being a scientist, but after changing physics in so many ways, it's more than a little disheartening to see the man refuse to accept the consequences of his theories: namely quantum mechanics. His quixotic quest for a unified field theory instead of participating in the debate over quantum physics seems like a great loss to scientific progress.

    On a personal note, I was amused to find myself in complete agreement with Einstein on this matter. Despite all the evidence, I just can't convince myself to accept the non-causal universe mandated by quantum physics. I know I should just accept the findings of all the much more intelligent scientists who've concluded that we live in a world determined by probabilities rather than strict cause-and-effect mechanics, but I just can't convince myself to do it.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    After achieving nearly mythical status as a genius this book brings Einstein back to down to human level. A complete biography from the beginning to the end of his life. The author shows us his humble beginnings as a child to his never-ending quest on his death bed to solve the riddles of the universe.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    plenty in here for physicists, other scientists, and general readers - his life, his science, his times. I suppose he was man of the century for a reason. it's plenty readable, and there are some great quotes included. shame he had such a poor family life. I did enjoy the epilogue about his brain and its wanderings through the years - wish we had a better idea of what to do with it!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Remarkably clear exposition of Einstein's theories for the general reader. It's an intellectual biography as much as a "life and times" bio. Very readable.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I enjoyed reading this book. Useful details of Einstein's life, reference to a high number of other scientists and thinkers on his era, political and social events throughout his life. Interesting storytelling of the Dynamic inside his family members, turn of their life events and change in their views and positions over time. Smooth and end of end tale of this scientist and celebrity's life that can inspire many in many facets. The reader is excellent as well. I highly recommend it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    An inspiring biography that somehow manages to instill more admiration of this historical icon. Probably my favorite book of all time; I plan on buying the paperback version to read a second time.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    There are no words... A perfect biography of an imperfect man.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I found this book fascinating and interesting, yet a bit more of a difficult read than Mr. Isaacson's biography of Benjamin Franklin. However, the author does a good job reconciling the physics genius with the rascally young ideologue and later with the icon we all think of when we hear the name "Einstein".As in his other biographies, Isaacson brings forth wonderful little anecdotes through personal letters and stories which, I feel, let us separate the man from the myth and let us know what the man was truly like. The personal letters, quick wit and even tyrannical impulses let the reader understand this complex man as a man, not a pillar of the scientific community. Not only is the young Einstein a fascinating character, but the older one - the one who spent his life fighting authority only to become the authority - also comes alive.As for science, this book is neither here nor there. If you understand some of the physics then it will be a nice review, if you don't then you won't understand it after finishing reading either. But that's not the point of the book anyway.Personally I found the chapter about Einstein's religious beliefs fascinating and enlightening. If a few more people in the world feel like him, that science and religions are complimentary ("Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind") this world will be a more peaceful place.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What were personal qualities of the greatest scientist of the twentieth century that differentiated him from his contemporaries? I have read a lot of books about Albert Einstein, who was one of my childhood heroes (along with the Lone Ranger). We had a lot in common - the violin and physics, although he was said to enjoy music practice more than I did, and he was said to be tolerant of kids who liked science. I never got to meet my hero; he died when I was 15. None of those books that I have read about him, until this one by Walter Isaacson, satisfactorily addressed the the questions about the person behind the scientist that I longed to have answered. Even the author admits (on NPR) that there may be better popular books about Einstein's science, for example Abraham Pais' "Subtle is the Lord", but Walter Isaacson was the first writer to get access to Einstein's voluminous archive of personal correspondence. With that, he was able to put together the most intimate history available. The results are not all sweetness. Einstein was a pretty awful family man, and he had a sizable ego (although he tried to appear modest in public). Isaacson does a good job with the science, too. Despite not being a scientist himself, he acknowledges the help of some excellent physicists (including Brian Greene, Lawrence Krass, Douglas Stone, Murray Gell-Mann, David Mermin, and Gerald Holton, among others). With advisors like those, you can't go far wrong, and Isaacson doesn't. This is a book for you and your students.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    An excellent biography of an extraordinary person. Mr. Isaacson's book about Dr. Einstein is well researched, well written, and takes us well beyond the science and the physicist. Mr. Isaacson describes Einstein's life, as well as the political and scientific culture he lived in. At times the science was a bit daunting (I read "Einstein for Dummies", which helped; other reviewers said they skipped those parts), but at other times, the book was actually quite humourous and portrayed a very real human being. I guess the best thing I can say about this book is how it inspired me to read "Einstein for Dummies", Einstein's own book "Relativity", and to re-read "Driving Mr. Albert" in which a reporter tracks down the pathologist who stole Dr. Einstein's brain, and after many years, decided to return it to the family.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Aside from a few painful descriptions of relativity theory and quantum physics, I absolutely loved this book. Though complex and imperfect, Einstein was both a genius and a true hero to humanity. HIghly, highly recommended. (I can hardly wait to read "Driving Mr. Albert: A Trip Across America with Einstein's Brain.")
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    An excellent biography of a great scientist. It's strength is the portrayal of the man's foibles, as well as, his intellectual accomplishments. By understanding his life experiences, we see more clearly his drive to learn and discover about his own nature, as well as Nature.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A thorough account of Einstein's life and contributions to the sciences and society as a whole.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Magnificent chronological pace that walks you through the life of Einstein. I learned a lot of facts about him and got to know the genius and the troubled person.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Einstein?s struggle with the establishment is much the same that scientist face today. It is the mind that questions why and doesn?t let go that is truly brave. Einstein was a brilliant thinker and Walter Isaacson is a brilliant writer for making this easy and accessible for the reader to understand.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was a little intimidated at first by this book because of the nature of the subject. My fear was that it would be too scientific. While there is a great deal about the great things that Einstein did, I found it to also have a great deal about his personal side. It was well written, kept me engaged throughout. There were some times where the science got a little too deep, but not too much. I have suggested it to friends.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great story of such a great mind. I definitely recommend!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What a well-written book - bravo! Isaacson tackles a man known for complex ideas and produces an easy-to-read, to-the-point biography that respectfully captures Einstein's personal side as well as his scientific achievements, and briefly touches on many of his amazing contemporaries. I was able to grasp the scientific concepts conveyed about as well as I ever will, thanks to great metaphorical descriptions and examples. I'll enjoy being less in the dark when this scientist and his theories are referred to in the news - something that (coincidentally?) occurred several times during the month I was reading this. Some of the theory still goes over my head, but thanks to its presentation I could always appreciate the direction each step of Einstein's research and theories was taking. This being the only biography I've read about Einstein, I can't measure what it gained from the additional source material that was made available in 2006. But this author, a former Time editor, has earned my admiration for the remarkable restraint of his writing style and his avoidance of unnecessarily flowery script. He avoids temptation to exaggerate, even confessing in a few places that while such-and-such might make a better story, the truth is actually so-and-so. Clearly he admires his subject, but not to the extent of irrational hero-worship that would have made this a weaker product. Nearly a hundred pages of reference notes at the back of the volume testify to the amount of background research invested. I will definitely consider reading other biographies by Walter Isaacson, particularly the one of Benjamin Franklin.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    As someone who only rarely reads biographies, I didn't expect to like this very much. Indeed, it wasn't the kind of plot-filled novel that I tend to like, which is why I only give it 3 stars. However, for a person who enjoys biography, I can recommend this book pretty highly. It was told in a not strictly sequential fashion (appropriate for the discoverer of relativity), and occasionally repeated itself on bits that had already been mentioned out of time order, but this was only jarring in a couple of instances. In general, though, it was full of interesting information on the man's life and his physics. Being a physicist myself, I can attest that the descriptions of the science included in the book are basically accurate, if somewhat simplified (as you might expect); but I have no idea how helpful they are for a layman's understanding of the physics, since I have the unfair advantage of already knowing what the theories say. ;)
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A wonderfull life ... one of the best book I have hear
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    To the unscientific, this book is readable. It does discuss his discoveries, but in a way you should be able to at least grasp some meaning from them.It isn't all science. It explores his personal and political life, and the events of rather interesting times that buffeted him, and helped shape his politics.All and all, a great read, about a very fascinating man, warts and all. Did not regret reading one single page of the book
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I found this book to be an inspiration,as it included the efforts of Einstein and his colleagues to improve the sociopolitical world around them in addition to solving their own scientific quest. I thought Isaacson did a great job making Einstein's scientific journey accessible to a reader with no background in physics or math,a formidable task in itself.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Walter Issacson?s ?Einstein? is a splendid read, a perfect balance of human interest, historical background and technical illumination. He may just as well have entitled the book, ?Einstein, the Twentieth Century, and the Evolution of Time and Space.? Issacson does a masterful job carting us through two world wars, the passing of Newtonian Physics, the birth of Quantum Theory, the dawning of the nuclear age, and the passing of perhaps humanity?s greatest mind. Four and a half stars for Einstein.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was an amazing biography! So much has been written about Einstein but apparently Walter Isaacson pulled from additional source material that has only recently become available. His ability to put you inside Einstein's personality, his life, his relationships with his friends and family was ? should I say it again? ? amazing! He acknowledged help from many people, but put together what I would imagine is the most coherent description of Einstein's Theories of Special and General Relativity that is possible for us laymen to read and keep it exciting. The description of Einstein's reluctance to accept the basic principles of quantum mechanics and how he fought until the end of his life for a unifying theory was fascinating. Also the politics of the time, Einstein's enthusiastic and determined embrace of democracy and equality, his ardent pacifism, as well as his rather sad family situation were skillfully interwoven with the science. A long but definitely worthwhile read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Excellent! Isaacson portrays the life of the Albert Einstein in all his brilliance and warts. This biography, much like Isaacson's Franklin bio, is thoroughly engaging, incredibly researched and documented and a wonderful insight into arguably the greatest intellect of the 20th century.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved reading this book except for one thing: The physics portions of the book were quite lengthy and so far over my head. Alas, I've never taken a physics class, which I regretted while reading this book. I heartily recommend this book to others. It's a long book but well worth the time to read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    very good good good good good good good good good