Einstein and the Poet: In Search of the Cosmic Man

by William Hermanns, Albert Einstein

Professor Hermanns interviewed Einstein in Germany before World War II, and in America after the War. They explored the nature of the cosmic man, but often discussed the horrors of the Holocaust and the implications of the atomic bomb. These verbatim conversations are published for the first time herewith. Einstein and Professor Hermanns knew too well Hitler’s visionary goal which was to make men automatons and strict followers of Nazism. Unwilling to succumb to Nazism as well as fulfilling his desire to survive rather than becoming himself a victim of the Holocaust, Einstein fled to America, where he explored the nature of man and man’s potential to achieve new heights as human beings. In his candid revelations, Einstein transcends physics and enters into a new sphere of humanism—one of a single humanity based on dignity. The theme throughout the four conversations surrounds the issue against a recurrent Anti-Semitism, especially that conducted by the Nazi.

Genres: Philosophy, Biography, Science, History, Spirituality, Nonfiction

178 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

William Hermanns (1895-1990) was one of the best personally informed authorities of the events in Germany from World War I through the Hitler era who recorded and expressed his experiences primarily as a poet, but also as a writer of books plays and a couple of songs, which we will feature on this site.

Dr. Hermanns was an academician, as well, having earned his doctorate in Sociology, and was prepared for a diplomatic career with the League of Nations, but that international attempt at peace had an early ending with Mussolini's march into Abysinia (Ethopia). He would later in the United States become a Professor in German Language and Literature at San Jose State College (now University).

His gift to the world was as a Poet Sociologist shining light on conscience, that he learned to respect on his journey from the imaginary hero self as a volunteer soldier marching at the side of his Kaiser victoriously through the Arc de Triomphe to his discovery of conscience and its guiding power in the trenches of war.

His vow, screamed from the battlefield of Verdun upon being half-buried by an exploding shell, "God, save me and I will serve You as long as I live!" remained present to him everyday of the rest of his life.

William Hermanns died 26 years ago on April 6, 1990 - on July 23, 2015 he would have been 120 years old (which was his goal because of some biblical king who achieved it). May the Principles he cherished be recognized in you.

Reviews

[Sanaz Rezapour · Rating 5 out of 5]

گاهى برخى كتاب ها چنان شگفت زده ات ميكنند كه نميدانى در وصفشان چه بنويسى. اين كتاب يكى از آن ها بود. بى نهايت عميق بود. مرا كشاند سر پرسش نخست كه چه هستم و چرا هستم.چه ميخواهم و به نفع كه ميخواهم و...
اين كتاب در قالب ٤ گفتگوى ويليام هرمان با انيشتين در سال هاى مختلف پيش از به قدرت رسيدن هيتلر و پس از آن طى جنگ جهانى دوم مى باشد كه گفتگو ها براساس مفاهيم يافته هاى انيشتين و نظرات او درباره جنگ و علل و اثرات و آن مى باشند.
بخش ديگرى كه بسيار از آن آموختم نظرات انيشتين درباره ضرورت تبليغ مذهب جهانى و يكپارچگى جهانيان بود.

پ.ن : اگر از من مى شنويد بدون شك اين كتاب را بخوانيد.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the book predates postmodernism, I would call Hermanns' book a "postmodern" approach to the art of biography. Hermanns injects himself and his experiences into this biography and limits his anecdotes to his own experiences with Einstein.

In many ways, Hermanns' approach makes the read very interesting. I have no idea how reliable his anecdotes are, but it makes the experience more intimate than a more objective approach to biography. It would probably be useful to read a more strenuously researched biography of Einstein to see if this book is more about Hermanns or more about Einstein.

[Mostafa · Rating 4 out of 5]

این کتاب جنبه هایی از زندگی خصوصی و دیدگاه های این بزرگ مرد تاریخ را نشان می دهد که در کمتر جایی می توان از این موارد مطلع شد. کتابی با بیان لطف و شاعرانه اما دارای مفاهیمی مهمی در مقابل با افراط گرایی که امروزه واقعا نیازمند آن هستیم.

[Mah saa · Rating 4 out of 5]

انیشتین گفت : نیچه در جایی نوشته است : وقتی حافظه می‌گوید اتفاقی روی داده است ولی غرور می‌گوید نه، حافظه تسلیم می‌شود

[Scott Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Albert Einstein is one of my favorite characters in history. I fell in love with his work while a graduate student in Princeton. His ethos still pervades the town. Of course, he upended Newtonian physics with his theory of relativity. He also contributed notably to other subfields of physics. As a Jew, he stood as a counterpoint to Nazi Germany’s false contention that as non-Aryans, Jews have not contributed to modern civilization after the Bible.

The historical record already captures Einstein’s contributions to physics well through his many papers and lectures. Less recorded are details of Einstein’s unique personality. German professor William Hermanns, also exiled from Nazi Germany to America, had four lengthy conversations with Einstein throughout the course of their lives. This German professor became a philosophical disciple of Einstein. Their first conversation occurred in Germany while the other three happened in Princeton. Hermanns took good notes and paraphrased the conversations in this book. While still imperfect, they stand as the best lengthy records of Einstein’s political and theistic views. Many groups of differing persuasions have attempted to claim the popular Einstein as their own, but this book remains the most intimate, definitive portrait of the great physicist.

Einstein’s historical impact includes being a political and religious force even though he never personally aspired to these roles. Hermanns, a poet, certainly appropriates Einstein in his paraphrase to speak more eloquently than he actually did in English. In this book, Einstein’s voice veers towards the mystical more strongly than it does in any leading biography. Still, it’s the closest we have to a longer record of a conversation with him, and for that reason, Einstein’s admirers, myself included, should read this to understand the man.

This edition of the book has clearly been scanned and has occasional typographic and grammatical errors. I wish an editor could clean it up. These conversations deserve to be preserved in libraries so that future biographers can understand this great man. He remains an enigmatic feature among civilization’s great thinkers, along with Isaac Newton, St. Francis of Assisi, and religious leaders. Thus, understanding the man, albeit through an imperfect lens, will benefit any reader. Because Hermanns is not a scientist, this book offers a portrait, highly accessible to the general public. Written by a poet, its voice is more mystical than other records, but its intimate content exposes Einstein’s inner life for us to know the man.

[Amir · Rating 3 out of 5]

مترجم: ناصر موفقیان تعداد صفحات کتاب: ۲۵۲ صفحه
در مورد اینشتین تا به حال چند نوشته مختلف نوشتم. این کتاب هم به صورت عمده بر روی عقاید و افکار اینشتین تمرکز داره.
نویسنده کتاب یه آلمانی که دکترای جامعه شانسی داره و در عین حال شاعر هم هست. از نجات یافتگان یکی از جنگهای خونین جنگ جهانی اول هست. در این کتاب نویسنده ۴ گفتگوی مختلف که با اینشتین در سالهای مختلف داشته رو گردآوری کرده. گفتگوها به ترتیب در این سالها هستن
۱. ۱۹۳۱
۲. ۱۹۴۳
۳. ۱۹۴۸
۴. زمان گفتگوی چهارم رو ننوشته ولی به نظر میاد ۱۹۵۰ باشه.
در این گفتگوها اینشتین و نویسنده کتاب در مورد مباحث مختلفی بحث میکنن از جمله:
۱. قدرت گرفتن نازی ها در آلمان
۲. جنگ جهانی
۳. نظریات علمی اینشتین
۴. دین کیهانی
۵. تشکیل دولت جهانی
۶. انسان کیهانی
روایت های نویسنده از اینشتین بسیار دقیق بیان شدن. من با توجه به شناختی که از اینشتین داشتم مطابقت کاملی رو بین این گفتگوها و اینشتین دیدم. نکته جالب هم این هست که من بیشتر همسو با افکار اینشتین بودم تا نویسنده و بیشتر جاها با افکار نویسنده مخالب بودم ولی هرمان در نقل این گفتگوها رعایت انصاف رو هم کرده.جالبت ترین بخش این گفتگوها به نظر من گفتگوهایی هست که به مباحث مربوط به خدا و ادیان برمیگرده. اینشتین در این مورد یه سری نظرات خاص خودش رو داره که تحت عنوان خدای کیهانی و دین کیهانی ازش نام میبره و با تصویری که در ادیان در این ارتباط وجود داره بسیار متفاوت هست.
در فلسفه هم اینشتین تاثیراتی از اسپینوزا گرفته (اسپینوزا هم یهودی بوده) که در چند جای کتاب هم اینشتین به این نکته اشاره میکنه.در مجموع این کتاب به خاطر ماهیت گفتگو گونه و غیر رسمی که داره برای آشنا شدن با عقاید اینشتین کتاب خیلی خوبی هست هرچند به نظر من تمرکز زیادی بر روی مسائل جنگ جهانی دوم داره که بخشهاییش برای من کمتر جالب بود.

[Tracey Ormerod · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this "quote culture", we collect them, scan them and share them. But how often do we wonder about their original intent ... if we're missing their meaning ... if they even really said it?

Einstein is likely the most quoted intellectual-scientist of the 20th century, but there's nothing like reading his thoughts within their originally intended context. That's why I went searching for this book.

"Have holy curiosity." Read it.

[Hamidreza Mohammadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a Great book! Many facts about Einstein which you didn't know before

[Elham · Rating 1 out of 5]

Simple book

[Nathan Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book portrays Einstein both with careful conscience and showcases his ethics as well as his past, there are numerous debates on war society, and even religion. Einstein and humanity tied together, he seemed to see the potential for good in man's heart, but lived through turbulent times. He never stopped questioning or making people question everything, and think logically. I have a lot of respect for him, not just because of his accomplishments but also because of his vision of Humanity and his will for peace... Wise and thoughtful; the author portrays Einstein as nearly prophetic in his deep wisdom and understanding of the human heart and nature.

[Soheil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first started reading books as means to find a way into the minds of great people. Well, this book achieves exactly the same. Not only I got to get a glimpse of how Einstein thought, I got to get to know Mr. Hermanns, a soft-hearted poet and sociologist who makes a big deal out of every simple thing.

I really enjoyed this book. Though the parts on World War II may not be everyone's cup of tea, I'd still recommend reading this book for the shear amount of insight it gives about the universe.

[Whoof]

Hermanns recounts his dialogues with Einstein, very interesting read. I wonder about the accuracy but overall it rings true...Touches on the idea of a "cosmic religion" and furthermore has lots of interesting historical bits throughout. In fact, because the first (out of four) dialogues takes place in 1930 and the final in 1954, they all together span over the course of WWII. Thus the backdrop of each is different, leading the conversations in various directions. Couldn't put it down!

[Ken Norton]

Excellent look into the mind of Einstein, especially regarding his conscience and interaction with society.

www.williamhermanns.com/Einstein_and_the_Poet

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic discussions...

[Aftab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard work that does not kill me,makes me stronger!!

[Amirali]

اگر می‌خواهی عاقل شوی بنشین و گوش کن

[Hamed Pourmohammad]

اسم کتاب غلط هستش. اینشتین و شاعر درسته