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Essential Einstein

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Sixty handsome duotone images of Einstein from around 1914 through 1954 are juxtaposed with the great man's thought- provoking quotations on lofty topics, drawn from letters, speeches, or recorded conversations. Introduced with an essay by Alan Bisbort. No index. 10.75x9". Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

120 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 1995

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About the author

Albert Einstein

881 books9,649 followers
Special and general theories of relativity of German-born American theoretical physicist Albert Einstein revolutionized modern thought on the nature of space and time and formed a base for the exploitation of atomic energy; he won a Nobel Prize of 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.

His paper of 1905 formed the basis of electronics. His first paper, also published in 1905, changed the world.
He completed his Philosophiae Doctor at the University of Zurich before 1909.

Einstein, a pacifist during World War I, stayed a firm proponent of social justice and responsibility.

Einstein thought that Newtonion mechanics no longer enough reconciled the laws of classical mechanics with those of the electromagnetic field. This thought led to the development. He recognized, however, that he ably also extended the principle to gravitational fields and with his subsequent theory of gravitation in 1916 published a paper. He continued to deal with problems of statistical mechanics and quantum theory, which led to his explanations of particle theory and the motion of molecules. He also investigated the thermal properties of light, which laid the foundation of the photon.

Best known for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2, dubbed "the world's most famous equation," he received "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect". The latter was pivotal in establishing quantum theory.

He visited the United States when Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 and went not back to Germany. On the eve of World War II, he endorsed a letter, alerting Franklin Delano Roosevelt, president, to the potential development of "extremely powerful bombs of a new type" and recommending that the United States begin similar research. This recommendation eventually led to the Manhattan project. Einstein supported defending the Allied forces but largely denounced the idea of using the newly discovered nuclear fission as a weapon. Later, with Bertrand Russell–Einstein manifesto highlighted the danger of nuclear weapons.

After the rise of the Nazi party, Einstein made Princeton his permanent home as a citizen of United States in 1940. He chaired the emergency committee of atomic scientists, which organized to alert the public to the dangers of warfare.

At a symposium, he advised:
"In their struggle for the ethical good, teachers of religion must have the stature to give up the doctrine of a personal God, that is, give up that source of fear and hope which in the past placed such vast power in the hands of priests. In their labors they will have to avail themselves of those forces which are capable of cultivating the Good, the True, and the Beautiful in humanity itself. This is, to be sure a more difficult but an incomparably more worthy task... "

("Science, Philosophy and Religion, A Symposium," published by the Conference on Science, Philosophy and Religion in their Relation to the Democratic Way of Life, Inc., New York, 1941).

In a letter to philosopher Eric Gutkind, dated 3 January 1954, Einstein stated:
"The word god is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this."


(The Guardian, "Childish superstition: Einstein's letter makes view of religion relatively clear," by James Randerson, May 13, 2008)

Great intellectual achievements and originality made the word "Einstein" synonymous with genius.

The institute for advanced study in Princeton, New Jersey, affiliated Einstein until his death in 1955.

More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_E...

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobe

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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Profile Image for Archit.
826 reviews3,200 followers
May 16, 2018
Home run!



If you are into equations and their role in setting up of the universe - This is the book for you.

All the works and papers from the man himself. You get to know the thought process of the articulate Einstein. I discovered this book on one of the novel stores when I was in the final year of my school and that's all it took to dive into Physics.

The way a proposition is dissected and a conclusion is drawn seems to work everywhere. The spiritual and ethical beliefs shared in the book are not to be missed.


A commentary from the most brilliant mind of the century adds the cherry on to the priced cake.

A Physics Masterclass !
Profile Image for TrumanCoyote.
1,110 reviews14 followers
August 24, 2025
Actually, he's a bit of a windbag here (with his head perpetually in the clouds). And his snobbishness is quite evident throughout (in his musings about "the herd" and so forth). In truth, he would come off as just another Kahlil Gibran type spouting ponderous imponderables (if it wasn't for all that genius physics stuff which gave him the soapbox access). I can definitely see why the powers that be were secretly hoping he wouldn't accept the presidency of Israel...
1 review1 follower
January 25, 2021
"The Essential Einstein: His greatest works," is a scientific and mathematical read that explains both the deep and convoluted math as well as the more advanced science behind his intricate General & Special Theory of Relativity. For an individual who is scientifically and mathematically advanced, this book serves as a great follow-up to the basic ideas of relativity. Although, the book is also suited to someone looking to comprehend the spiritual and the political mind of Albert Einstein. Though, for the most part, this book is an extremely arduous read and is only suited for individuals who can comprehend not only the intellectual and old-fashioned writing of Einstein but the university-level mathematics that permeates through the entirety of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
4 reviews2 followers
December 27, 2013
Reading a book written by Albert himself was definitely a delight.
The understanding of difference between force and field concept, relativity, and his political & spiritual views, all this make it a complete package...
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews

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