Albert Einstein (1879–1955)

I will never quite understand the keenness for what Einstein calls the "highly-centralized productive apparatus". Provided by the state to a narcicisstic adopter, I have my own reasons for suspicion of centralised, distant government (as opposed to local community) involving itself in the trajectory of one's life. But priorities may shift as and when we exit Veblen & Einstein's "predatory phase" of human society: capitalist, nationalist, self-interested. We can only hope Hegel was right at show more least about our progressing towards something better than today, or, better still, that we might reject his antirevolutionary tilt and find within ourselves the strength to overcome where we are. Workers rise up! Protect your land, your communities, your freedom, from governments and corporations alike!

Oh, nor will I ever quite get the--I think capitalist brainwash--portrayal of work as dignity. (I do half jest.) Nonetheless. Sing it, Bruder Einstein! show less

“The universe of these beings is finite and yet has no limits.” – Albert Einstein, in chapter XXXI

So says one of the great thinkers – perhaps, the great thinker – of the twentieth century in explaining his general theory of relativity. While there was much mathematical in its derivation, Einstein explains it in common language to the educated reader in this short work. He also explains the special theory of relativity here. While such things are hard to digest (at least at first), show more they are certainly able to be digested in this format. That this presentation exists in such clarity at all bespeaks to Einstein’s genius.

I once took theology classes at a seminary on Mercer Street in Princeton, just down the street from where Einstein used to live. Stories about his commonness yet uncommonness still filled the town. He amazingly had the gall to claim that the universe was circular or elliptical – and then attempted to prove it. He did so by clear thought, not by experiment as he was a theoritician, and this book contains an accessible version of those thoughts. For that reason alone, the curious reader is encouraged to dwell deeply within this record of his understanding.

Like mathematics, physics is a field full of geniuses whose ingenuity is common with respect to each other. I am not a physicist, and I will not attempt to comment on the science presented. From what I understand, some of Einstein’s formulations have been questioned by contemporary experiments, and string theory (though still unproven) attempts to generalize even further. To me, neither of these discredits Einstein’s accomplishment with regards to relativity. Of course, his annus mirabilis (“miracle year” of 1905) included other important findings like Brownian motion, and for better or for worse, his legacy will forever be bound with the Manhattan project and its atomic bomb.

Thumbing through a work like this and dwelling on the beauty of its contents surely provide one of the greatest experiences humans can have. Only a handful of works, like those by Immanuel Kant or Isaac Newton or Augustine of Hippo, reach the heights like this. As such, anyone with any inkling of interest in physics should attempt to study these theories, and who better to read than the author of them himself? I enjoyed my time reading this work immensely. The translation is clear and scientific, but reading still is a little difficult due to the complex subject matter. Nonetheless, being a dog eating the crumbs from Einstein’s table still provides quite a treat! show less

Well-written discussion of a complex subject. Unfortunately, Einstein's ideas on time and synchronicity do not comply with quantum mechanics. Given that quantum theory has an extensive set of experiments demonstrating these concepts it is a shame that Einstein was never able to bring his theory into alignment with reality. Still a great read though.

I read this about 25 years ago, when I was in college and rather enamored with physics. I must have been pretty odd already; I couldn't put it down and stayed up all night reading it. I was absolutely captivated. I had to stretch my mind to its limits to not nearly grasp concepts Einstein had clearly visualized well before it was possible to verify them empirically. It’s been a long time, but I remember it being well written, even simple, and charming as well. It explained relativity (and show more discussed the question of whether the universe is bounded or not) infinitely better (okay, bad pun) than my physics texts and professors. It’s not Harry Potter, but you just might find it hard to put down, too. show less