Einstein: A Life

Any reader who thinks it might be profitable to spend some quality time with Albert Einstein - arguably the greatest scientist of all time - should read this book. The author, Denis Brian, knows how to write a biography and, in his `Alfred Einstein, A Life", he offers a wonderful subject. This reader - whose science background is close to nil - approached this book with considerable trepidation - needlessly. While the author deals properly and necessarily with Einstein's scientific pursuits and achievements - which means he sometimes employs some `heavy' jargon - like relativity theory, unified field theory, quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, superstring theory with 4 dimensions plus 6, photon theory, neutrons, protons, atoms, particles - negativeand positive, etc. - he does so in a merciful fashion that places few demands on the reader. NOT tounderstand what Einstein was working on at any given moment was always pretty much the norm, anyhow, for even his peers and other world-class scientists. On the other hand, there is plenty in Einstein's lifethat nearly any reader can understand and probably relate to- much of which is highly fascinating andilluminating. Here is a list of some of the subjects and issues that Einstein chose or was compelled to deal with - apart from his science: women andromances and marriage, religion and the hereafter, career decisions, anti-Semitism and racism, parentingand a mentally ill son, celebrity-status and death threats, Israel and Zionism, Russia and Communism, Hitler and Fascism, Gandhi and pacifism vs. defense needs, capitalism, atomic energy and weapons, disarmament, Cold War politics, friends and relatives,Germany and Germans, Americans and their culture, world-wide lecture tours, mind vs. matter, Freud and psychoanalysis, J.B. Shaw and literary criticism and socialism, Upton Sinclair and social reform, and the Rosenburg spy case. In short, while Einstein was always focused primarily on science and the mysteriesof the universe, he also found some time to do some serious thinking, talking and writing about other serious,mundane issues, as well. The author does a marvelous job of researching and organizing the materials in this book. I liked his decisionto introduce each chapter with a title, the years coveredtherein, and Einstein's age during those years. I also likedhis thoroughness in including first-hand accounts, letters, notes, and experiences of people of every possible age, class, and status. The traits and qualities they describe show clearly the essence of Albert Einstein: mental genius modest, shy, well-informed, explosive and lusty laugh, absent minded, casual, unkempt, outspoken, impulsive, punster, impudent, kind, enthusiastic, energetic, well-traveled, versatile, frugal, ebullient, stubborn, moody,lucid, liberal, unpretentious, warm-hearted, informal, passionate, workaholic, direct, absentminded, prematurelyaged, pro-world government, tobacco addicted, endearing, self-assured,

I started reading about Einstein about 1 year ago and once I read the first book my hunger for knowledge about this person grew so I picked up this book by Denis Brian. I've read a few books about Albert Einstein, "Creator and Rebel" by Banesh Hoffmann, "Der private Albert Einstein by Peter Bucky", "Am Sonntag kuess ich Dich muendlich" by Albert Einstein & Mileva Maric, "Einstein sagt" & "Die Welt wie ich sie sehe" by Albert Einstein. I've enjoyed all these books yet none of them really gave me a big glimpse at who Einstein really was (except for his quotes and his love letters to Mileva, but that's only one side of him). Some of these books attempted to portray the private Einstein but at the same time were careful not to show to much or hide things which weren't thought of proper at the time of publishing (what happened to the Media since then ? ;-) Denis Brian tries to uncover this very private person and does so successfully considering how well protected Einstein was from the public by his close friends, co-workers and neighbors. If you are out for "dirt" on this great scientist, you have the wrong book. You will find out facts, some of them will not enlighten you but at the same time, he was only human. But if you are out for scandalous news about him, forget it, you won't find it here. Back to this book, I found it to be very informative but definitely not boring, very entertaining and delightful. You will catch yourself laughing out loud or snickering at some of the things Einstein said or did and he will remind you of the kid next door, very down to earth. Anyway, I could go on and on, but I really would like to recommend this book. Denis Brian did his homework, the materials have been researched very well (impressive bibliography) and at the same time are written in an entertaining style. Even though I already read a few books about Einstein, I still discovered plenty of new material. If you are looking for a book to become aquainted with the human behind the genius, this will be your best bet!

As for many scientists, I'm sure, Einstein was my idol since I was 8 years old. Einstein is a universal icon of the genius representing the amazing power of human thought. However, his public image has always presented Einstein as an eccentric, super-human, distraught and insightful scientist who, with no more tools than a pencil and a piece of paper, and no more lab than his own mind, was capable of uncovering the inner parts of nature; to see what nobody else had seen before, and yet after he published it, the most remarkable scientists of his time needed many years to grasp it.This beautiful, excellent researched book presents a more earth-bound Einstein. A human that regardless of his fantastic scientific achievements, was also capable of making mistakes, both in his science and his own life. Here you will know the courageous pacifist, the activist, the scientist, and also the certainly nothing close to perfection husband and father. The true nature of Einstein can be tasted through these pages. A dream come true for any Einstein fan like myself, and an enjoyable reading for anyone.

Einstein - A Life, is a marvelous recounting of one of the worlds most celebrated historical figures. This work reveals the human side of A.E. while maintaining the genius he was. A must read for all biography fans.

I'm a big fan of biographies, and have read many, and I can easily rank this one in top 5. It's definetely the definitive biography of Einstein for those that want to get to know Einstein almost on a personal level. The amount of detail is just right and he's never portrayed as a God which other biographers have tried to do. I definetely recommend it.