Michael > Recent Status Updates

Pg 458 Einstein's so-called mistakes, such as the cosmological constant he added to his gravitational field equations, often turned out to be more intriguing than other people's successes.

pg. 324 For Einstein, and indeed for most classical physicist, the idea that there could be a fundamental randomness in the universe - that events could just happen without a cause - was not only a cause for discomfort, it undermined the entire program of physics.

pg. 306 One evening at dinner, Murray's wife asked him why he remained so cheerful given the depravity of the world. "We must remember that this is a very small star," he responded, "and provably some of the larger and more important stars may be very virtuous and happy." [ftnt]

pg. 297 1921, Princeton, Einstein went to Princeton, where he delivered a weeklong series of scientific lectures and received an honorary degree "for voyaging through strange seas of thought."

pg. 279: Relativity theory would have profound consequences for theology, Haldane warned the archbishop of Canterbury, who immediately tried to comprehend the theory with only modest success.

p. 84 ..., Einstein steadfastly believed it was right."

p. 84 In addition, Einstein drew from Spinoza a faith in determinism: a sense that the laws of nature, once we could fathom them, decreed immutable causes and effects, and that God did not play dice by allowing any events to be random or undertermined. "All things are determined by the necessity of divine nature," Spinoza declared, and even when when quantum mechanics seemed to show that was wrong,

pg. 76 Einstein and his daughter apparently never laid eyes on each other.

pg. 67 - "Blind respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."

"Loneliness loves company. Nothing is finer in a foreign land than a friend to share your joys and make them double; and your sorrows and make them half. This is true, even though your "friend" be only a bicycle." [92]

"The best things in life are free - a bed in God's great out-of-doors, fresh air, sunshine, moonlight raining down from a cloudless sky, wind rustling in the palms, waters lapping the river banks, frogs croaking, birds singing, the laughter and gaiety of children, the joyous companionship of Bucephalus! Loneliness loves company."[92]

> So far a pretty good story but better editing of the Kindle version would make it a much better read. Many typos and obvious grammatical errors.

p.204 Most of his [Gore's] "science" was never challenged by the mainstream media. ...a hack had uncovered some damning emails from within the man-made global warming scientific community. Released data and emails showed climate researchers manipulating temperature reading charts to highlight only increases in global warming. The scandal was nicknamed "Climategate."

p. 164 "You don't judge 1820s America by 2020 standards. You judge the 1820s by which people helped build what became 2020 America. As individuals, we can acknowledge our sins, cleanse, repent and grow. As a nation, we should to the same.

p. 164 "American history needs to be learned, not destroyed. Knowledge leads to growth and understanding; ignorance leads to hate and violence. The arc of American history has always been toward more freedom, justice, and equality. Our history is something we should be proud of.

pp. 19-20 (cont) kamikazes, while this generation is saving the world from offensive Halloween costumes and Ben Shapiro. I like Ben; he's sharp. But he's five foot five with a podcast. Is he really a threat?"

pp. 19-20 - "When I was in college, I wanted to party, not protest. College kids today don't know how good they have it. When my parents were in college, they protested the draft and marched for civil rights. Their parents' generation stormed the beaches of Normandy. They made it possible for today's students to storm the beaches of spring break. The Greatest Generation saved the world from Hitler and ...

p12 - "If AOC wants to board a solar-powered airplane, be my guest. I feel much safer with jet fuel."

Intro: p.xv: "The media finds demonization more effective than debate."

"...do the work you love. And love yourself. That's all you can do in this world in order to be happy."

p. 232 Weathering the rough times requires a lot of self-confidence outside the things you can't control, like career and what other people think of you. You need to be able to feel proud of yourself even if you were living in a tiny hut in the middle of nowhere, taking care of goats. You are unique and good enough JUST AS YOU ARE. As a theoretical goat herder.

p.230 - There's a great Eleanor Roosevelt quote, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

p. 150 "No matter what you feel is holding you back in life...You can attempt anything,"

p. 33 "Knowing yourself is life's eternal homework. (Another coffee mug slogan!)"

p. 13 - "We are born and empty bookshelf. Life is what we fill it with." Felicia Day.