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The Einstein Reader
'The Einstein Reader' is a celebration of Einstein's life and innermost thoughts, focusing on the crucial years at the end of his career - 1934 to 1950. The enlightening pieces collected here explore a range of subjects, including freedom, international security, Zionism, morals, and the atomic threat to world peace.
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2006
6 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Albert Einstein
907 books9,661 followersSpecial 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:
("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 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
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 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 9, 2015
In summary:
A brilliant introduction to Albert Einstein, in his own words no less. While there is plenty of science to be found, Readers who are interested in his political and ethical writings will find this book a must read.
"...Today i'm described in Germany as a "German savant", and in England as a "Swiss jew". Should it ever be in my fate to be represented as a bete noire, I should, on the contrary, become a "Swiss jew" for the Germans and a "German savant" for the English." -Albert Einstein (1919)
The review:
The problem with most biographies these days is that you have to deal with the narrator. In fact, looking around reviews I find that people find the "voice" of the biographer a bigger issue then the subject. Especially with subjects like Einstein where their lives (or even simply the interests of their lives) can be a bit overwhelming.
Thankfully theres an alternative, and thats books like The Einstein Reader. Here you will find important self-contained essays written by al himself, taking place in some of the most turbulent times in world history (This volume gathers material mainly from 1934-1950, the previous book The World as I see It covers the previous years).
The subjects and viewpoints within the novel are the main driving force of interest, as they come directly from Einstein himself in that moment in time.
Want to hear his take on education? It's in the book.
Want to hear his thoughts on racism in America? It's in the book.
Want to hear his reaction to the holocaust, and the jewish crisis postwar? It's in the book.
The book definitely deals with ethics and politics, as well as science (they are, no doubt always part of each other). It's a relief to have another book that dispels the myth that Einstein was all mind and no conscience. Many essays in here are in fact open letters when he worked with the UN.
Theres a great deal of material here that still resonates today, whether it's his plea for a world government, his efforts to eliminate the threat of a global nuclear arsenal, or a powerful speech to intellectuals to take responsibility in their work and realize the global consequences of their actions.
A lot of the more physics based bits are put in to provide a backdrop, rather then a primary focus. A lot of this stuff will no doubt go over some people's heads, but the passionate and concise way it's written adds a relateabilty thats often lost in a boring classroom. He definitely had a gentleman's way with his writing.
The book only has two real caveats, the major one being that the dates of when each essay is written is only shown at the chapter list in the beginning. Since the essays are shown out of order and arranged by subject, one has to constantly go back to the chapter list to see the year it was published. And one must do this, as some essays lack the appropriate tension with the historical context removed.
The second is more of a lament. While the book is a perfect size for a travellers companion, it's also a bit too light. I find it very hard to believe that this is all of his major writings in this period of his life. And even if it was, it would have been nice to have some of his political letters published here as well. There is one gathering of back and forth letters here where he argues with a soviet scientist as to whether or not the soviet union should join the UN. It was a fascinating kind of piece that I wish the book had more of.
Still, if there ever were an introduction to the legendary mind, this is it. Along with The World as I see It, this is a must read for history lovers and science lovers alike.
A brilliant introduction to Albert Einstein, in his own words no less. While there is plenty of science to be found, Readers who are interested in his political and ethical writings will find this book a must read.
"...Today i'm described in Germany as a "German savant", and in England as a "Swiss jew". Should it ever be in my fate to be represented as a bete noire, I should, on the contrary, become a "Swiss jew" for the Germans and a "German savant" for the English." -Albert Einstein (1919)
The review:
The problem with most biographies these days is that you have to deal with the narrator. In fact, looking around reviews I find that people find the "voice" of the biographer a bigger issue then the subject. Especially with subjects like Einstein where their lives (or even simply the interests of their lives) can be a bit overwhelming.
Thankfully theres an alternative, and thats books like The Einstein Reader. Here you will find important self-contained essays written by al himself, taking place in some of the most turbulent times in world history (This volume gathers material mainly from 1934-1950, the previous book The World as I see It covers the previous years).
The subjects and viewpoints within the novel are the main driving force of interest, as they come directly from Einstein himself in that moment in time.
Want to hear his take on education? It's in the book.
Want to hear his thoughts on racism in America? It's in the book.
Want to hear his reaction to the holocaust, and the jewish crisis postwar? It's in the book.
The book definitely deals with ethics and politics, as well as science (they are, no doubt always part of each other). It's a relief to have another book that dispels the myth that Einstein was all mind and no conscience. Many essays in here are in fact open letters when he worked with the UN.
Theres a great deal of material here that still resonates today, whether it's his plea for a world government, his efforts to eliminate the threat of a global nuclear arsenal, or a powerful speech to intellectuals to take responsibility in their work and realize the global consequences of their actions.
A lot of the more physics based bits are put in to provide a backdrop, rather then a primary focus. A lot of this stuff will no doubt go over some people's heads, but the passionate and concise way it's written adds a relateabilty thats often lost in a boring classroom. He definitely had a gentleman's way with his writing.
The book only has two real caveats, the major one being that the dates of when each essay is written is only shown at the chapter list in the beginning. Since the essays are shown out of order and arranged by subject, one has to constantly go back to the chapter list to see the year it was published. And one must do this, as some essays lack the appropriate tension with the historical context removed.
The second is more of a lament. While the book is a perfect size for a travellers companion, it's also a bit too light. I find it very hard to believe that this is all of his major writings in this period of his life. And even if it was, it would have been nice to have some of his political letters published here as well. There is one gathering of back and forth letters here where he argues with a soviet scientist as to whether or not the soviet union should join the UN. It was a fascinating kind of piece that I wish the book had more of.
Still, if there ever were an introduction to the legendary mind, this is it. Along with The World as I see It, this is a must read for history lovers and science lovers alike.
April 28, 2024
A collection of thoughts and opinions of the great mind of history.
Topics taken through the words spoken from himself.
Views on, the situation of Jews, Negros, science, political and military rule, threats of atomic bombs, advanced wars, educational reforms and more.
His thoughts/Memoriams on some famous personalities and his fellow scientists namely Issac Newton, Kepler, Marie Curie, Gandhi, Max Plank and such other persons.
The explanations and workings of the Theory of Relativity, E=Mc², other concepts from the mind of the scholar himself.
🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻I found this helpful to understand the person more profoundly, give it some time if you want to know about him.
✌️✌️
Topics taken through the words spoken from himself.
Views on, the situation of Jews, Negros, science, political and military rule, threats of atomic bombs, advanced wars, educational reforms and more.
His thoughts/Memoriams on some famous personalities and his fellow scientists namely Issac Newton, Kepler, Marie Curie, Gandhi, Max Plank and such other persons.
The explanations and workings of the Theory of Relativity, E=Mc², other concepts from the mind of the scholar himself.
🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻I found this helpful to understand the person more profoundly, give it some time if you want to know about him.
✌️✌️
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews