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The Theory of Relativity: And Other Essays
E=mc2 is the world’s most famous equation. Discover the thought process and physics behind general relativity and Einstein’s contribution to science, in this authorized edition.
In this collection of his seven most important essays on physics, Einstein guides his reader step-by-step through the many layers of scientific theory that formed a starting point for his discoveries. By both supporting and refuting the theories and scientific efforts of his predecessors, Einstein reveals in a clear voice the origins and meaning of such significant topics as physics and reality, the fundamentals of theoretical physics, the common language of science, the laws of science and of ethics, and an elementary derivation of the equivalence of mass and energy.
This remarkable collection allows the general reader to understand not only the significance of Einstein’s masterpiece, but also the brilliant mind behind it.
This authorized ebook features a new introduction by Neil Berger and an illustrated biography of Albert Einstein, which includes rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the Albert Einstein Archives at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1950
141 people are currently reading
855 people want to read
About the author
Albert Einstein
719 books9,648 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 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 4, 2018
Wow! This book was quite a trek. It was inspiring and thought providing and I think I understood the majority of it. As to that last point, I'm not sure.
Einstein's writing is deceptively simple, at times. He says something that, at first glance, seems to be obvious but if you back up and read it again, you find that there's a subtlety that sometimes boggles the mind. The thing that impresses me most, though, is the number of questions he expressed. Most people aren't comfortable admitting that they don't know. They'd rather make something up than let a question go unanswered. This book, on the other hand, left me with more questions than answers. I got the sense that Mr Einstein believed in the mystery in the same way that others believe in God.
In the end, I'm really glad I read this. It wasn't an easy read, but it was a worthwhile one.
Einstein's writing is deceptively simple, at times. He says something that, at first glance, seems to be obvious but if you back up and read it again, you find that there's a subtlety that sometimes boggles the mind. The thing that impresses me most, though, is the number of questions he expressed. Most people aren't comfortable admitting that they don't know. They'd rather make something up than let a question go unanswered. This book, on the other hand, left me with more questions than answers. I got the sense that Mr Einstein believed in the mystery in the same way that others believe in God.
In the end, I'm really glad I read this. It wasn't an easy read, but it was a worthwhile one.
January 7, 2016
“Science is the attempt to make the chaotic diversity of our sense-experience to a logically uniform system.”
In these essays Einstein attempts to bring the complexities of high-level theoretic science to the layman. He’s partly successful; I almost understand relativity now. When he starts charts and equations, he loses me.
“Perfection of means and confusion of goals … characterizes our age.”
Written in the 1940s and 50s these article also engage the idea that science is a natural outgrowth of living and has something to contribute, even to ideas like ethics, though Einstein admits, “For the scientist, there is only ‘being,’ but no wishing, no value, no good, no evil, no goal.”
“Truth is what stands the test of experience.”
In these essays Einstein attempts to bring the complexities of high-level theoretic science to the layman. He’s partly successful; I almost understand relativity now. When he starts charts and equations, he loses me.
“Perfection of means and confusion of goals … characterizes our age.”
Written in the 1940s and 50s these article also engage the idea that science is a natural outgrowth of living and has something to contribute, even to ideas like ethics, though Einstein admits, “For the scientist, there is only ‘being,’ but no wishing, no value, no good, no evil, no goal.”
“Truth is what stands the test of experience.”
June 21, 2024
Very dense but worth wrestling with if you're naturally curious and inquisitive.
Talks about the time dilation, space dilation, the relative nature of time+space, and a bunch of other concepts (many of which will go over your head the first time you read them)
Talks about the time dilation, space dilation, the relative nature of time+space, and a bunch of other concepts (many of which will go over your head the first time you read them)
February 16, 2025
Obviously over my head. Obviously a pivotal work in the field of physics. Here's what I got:
https://thatladywhoreadsalot.wordpres...
https://thatladywhoreadsalot.wordpres...
October 12, 2016
No easy reading. I had to look up a lot of things.
October 27, 2017
More understandable than I expected.
April 4, 2019
Most complicated theory in a lucid language.
May 1, 2024
interesting essays, famous. i was always curious to see what was actually in them, outside of what i learned from school, pop-culture and the general internet. i felt like these essays were a bit thin, and i would have liked more of the philosophical thinking, especially since the author's mind is such an iconic one, labeled as a genius of modern generations...but, obviously, the collection is of value to the scientific community still.
June 13, 2021
I figured this book would have been a bit more comprehensive with its explanations. But it really based a lot of its points on other theories and concepts. So without first understanding those theories and concept, this book was just NOT understandable. I really tried my best to get it ... but it escaped me at every turn. So Ill just assume its amazing since so much is based on it.
April 17, 2022
หนังสือรวม 7 บทความสำคัญที่ Einstein เขียนขึ้นมา เพื่ออธิบายความหมายของทฤษฎีสัมพัทธภาพ รวมถึงการตีความและอธิบายความสมการอันโด่งดัง E=MC^2 ของเขา คงไม่เหมาะกับคนทั่วไป ในเล่มยังมี 2 บทความสั้น ๆ ที่ใครก็อ่านได้ คือบทความเรื่อง The Common Language of Science (อันนี้มาจากคำที่ Einstein พูดในงาน Science Conference ที่ลอนดอน ปี 1941) กับ The Laws of Science and The Laws of Ethics
December 31, 2021
119/75: The Theory of Relativity and other essays by Albert Einstein. A fascinating read to get me one step closer before the end of the year to an average of 10 books per month. Enhancing my physics knowledge is a must right!?
March 25, 2024
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, given the subject matter, but for those that need to know; You’ll only really get the full benefit of this book if you’re familiar with differential & integral calculus and geometry. If you are, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.
May 21, 2025
Someone smarter than me: is Einstein essentially arguing for a mathematical explanation of something akin to Parmenides view that nothing changes? That is how it feels when he argues that movement is only viewed relative to everything else.
November 27, 2019
interesting to read a book that is authored by the scientist whose discoveries are still amaze current scientists.
Want to read
November 24, 2021my books
Read
January 10, 2022Really interesting. Probably understood some of it. “The search for truth is more precious than its expression”.
June 26, 2023
I was listening to audio book, that is a very hard medium to grasp a book like this.
Want to read
May 3, 2024@LogicalAayam recommended.
October 20, 2024
Quick audiobook read. Pretty fascinating stuff!
March 15, 2025
Not a easy read but worth it
August 5, 2025
Einstein's explanation of the history of the increasing unification of scientific principles was fascinating. And while I only have an engineering background and didn't understand as much of the relativity or quantum mechanics section, I feel like it was a good introduction to the topic (albeit a bit too mathematical).
I listened to this as an audiobook, which made understanding how the mathematical derivations occurred basically impossible, so if that is something you care about, then read a physical copy.
I listened to this as an audiobook, which made understanding how the mathematical derivations occurred basically impossible, so if that is something you care about, then read a physical copy.
March 1, 2012
This book is epic!! I love it!!
August 24, 2016
Amazing...
February 23, 2013
Back to the sources. Not bad for a postal clerk.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews