This multidimensional portrait of one of the greatest physicists who ever lived explains Einstein's groundbreaking scientific discoveries with exceptional clarity and explores the interwoven threads of his personal, political, and professional life. Photographs and colorful models of his exciting theories illustrate a riveting narrative that celebrates Einstein's genius and humanism.
This is a brief biography of Albert Einstein. Perhaps it could be satisfactory to those who know nothing about physics or children. For those who wish for something more substantive, I recommend the popular biography by Walter Isaacson or the scientific one by Abraham Pais.
The New Horizons series published by Thames and Hudson and the Great Discoveries series published by W. W. Norton & Company are both excellent and both series include books on Einstein. This one, in New Horizons, contains brief and comprehensive biographical details and, more importantly, very clear explanations of his scientific discoveries and thinking. If you don't understand the photoelectric effect, the nature of light, matter and time, the theories of special and general relativity or why Einstein is so famous, you will after reading this book. You might not fully understand quantum mechanics, hardly anyone does even now and they might be fibbing, but the book gives a good account of the problems and controversies inherent in it. The book is also enhanced by suitable illustrations. The intended readership is older children with an interest in science and scientists, but it is also suitable for any adults who are not theoretical physicists.
Rather than just talking about Einstein's revolutionary theories & the importance of them, the book also gives insight into the man & the time he lived in. It shows letters to and from Einstein, newspaper articles, quotes from contemporaries. Yes, Albert Einstein was a genius, but his personality had a depth that isn't always portrayed in books.
This book even gave me a tiny bit better understanding of general relativity. Unfortunately, I still haven't grasped quantum mechanics at all.
What I appreciated the most about this book was not just the fact that Einstein is one of my favorite scientists of all time, but it is seriously loaded with all of his information. If that's not enough, check it out for a variety of rich illustrations on Einstein, art, archeology, music, history, philosophy, science and nature.