A Stubbornly Persistent Illusion: The Essential Scientific Works of Albert Einstein

by Stephen Hawking (Editor)

"People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion." --Albert Einstein Best-selling author and physicist Stephen Hawking assembles the most groundbreaking works by Albert Einstein together into one volume. From the text that revealed the famous "Theory of Relativity"--renowned as the most important scientific discovery of the 20th Century--to his significant works on quantum theory, statistical mechanics, and the photoelectric effect, here are the writings that changed physics, and subsequently, the way we view the world. Einstein also thought deeply on both political issues and religious thought, so many of Einstein's philosophical essays are included. Hawking provides introductions to each work, which provides both historical and scientific perspective. From the papers that shaped modern scientific thought to Einstein's later musings on his landmark findings, A Stubbornly Persistent Illusion is a collection of Einstein's most important work, with commentary from our greatest living physicist.

Genres: Science, Physics, Nonfiction, Philosophy, History, Science Nature, Popular Science

473 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 27, 2007

About the author

Stephen William Hawking was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge. Between 1979 and 2009, he was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, widely viewed as one of the most prestigious academic posts in the world.
Hawking was born in Oxford into a family of physicians. In October 1959, at the age of 17, he began his university education at University College, Oxford, where he received a first-class BA degree in physics. In October 1962, he began his graduate work at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where, in March 1966, he obtained his PhD degree in applied mathematics and theoretical physics, specialising in general relativity and cosmology. In 1963, at age 21, Hawking was diagnosed with an early-onset slow-progressing form of motor neurone disease that gradually, over decades, paralysed him. After the loss of his speech, he communicated through a speech-generating device initially through use of a handheld switch, and eventually by using a single cheek muscle.
Hawking's scientific works included a collaboration with Roger Penrose on gravitational singularity theorems in the framework of general relativity, and the theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation, often called Hawking radiation. Initially, Hawking radiation was controversial. By the late 1970s, and following the publication of further research, the discovery was widely accepted as a major breakthrough in theoretical physics. Hawking was the first to set out a theory of cosmology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. He was a vigorous supporter of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics.
Hawking achieved commercial success with several works of popular science in which he discussed his theories and cosmology in general. His book A Brief History of Time appeared on the Sunday Times bestseller list for a record-breaking 237 weeks. Hawking was a Fellow of the Royal Society, a lifetime member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. In 2002, Hawking was ranked number 25 in the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. He died in 2018 at the age of 76, having lived more than 50 years following his diagnosis of motor neurone disease.

Reviews

[Peter]

You've got to be kidding? The average rating for this is 4.21, yet I'm willing to stake my dog's life on the bet that nobody in the Goodreads world has ever read even one chapter. These are reprints of Einstein's original papers on relativity--both special and general. The papers are filled with multivariable calculus, both differential and integral, and with tensor mathematics. Perhaps a real physicist has read this book, or sections of it, but I wonder how many of them contributed to the rating.

Einstein's contributions are mammouthly important, and on a scale of 1 to 5 he deserves a 4,350! I don't have the temerity to rate this book.

[Update: there are Goodreads members who tell me that they are physicists and that I insult them by saying that nobody in Goodreads could have read a chapter. What I wrote was intentionally hyperbolic and I had no intention of excluding physicists from possible Goodreads membership. Mea Culpa! My point was, simply, don't pick this book up as a path to a layman's understanding of relativity--it really is for the physicists among you. For the rest of you, don't worry--the dog is alive]

[Sailor · Rating 5 out of 5]

..."People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion." --Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein changed the way physicists view the universe -- and transformed the way we all see the world. Just over one hundred years ago, his Theory of Relativity stunned scientists, but today it's integral to our modern scientific thought.

In this single volume, bestselling author and physicist Stephen Hawking has assembled highlights of Einstein's groundbreaking scientific works. Collected within is Einstein's own writings on the Theory of Relativity, as well as his reflections on politics, religion, and the ultimate significance of his scientific discoveries

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

first part is dense - equations way over my head. Later part, with edits by Hawking, were far better. A good read for the science lover, esp. if the science lover knows physics better than moi.

[Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, lucid writing from Einstein with his very firm opinions on his ideas. Will re-read this again once I master tensors and general relativity.

[Madeline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Einstein is a bit of a drag to plow through & a lot of the mathy bits were well beyond my understanding capacity.

[Roxana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I gave it a 3, I still liked it.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

For interested physicists only. Most of this consists in actual papers and addresses of Einstein.

[Briseida Alcalá · Rating 5 out of 5]

Albert Einstein explora la representación del universo desde una perspectiva física, explicando fenómenos mediante leyes y cómo su trabajo transformó conceptos de masa, energía, espacio y tiempo, impactando el siglo XX con la energía atómica. Su interés en la filosofía y el lenguaje revela la belleza en la precisión que resalta la búsqueda de la verdad.

https://briseidaalcala.com/2025/03/11...

[Mauricio De La Torre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buen libro. Para disfrutarlo es necesario tener conocimientos de física.

[Hamze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I expected and way more,

[Roger James Delavera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preferred this over Principia!