EINSTEIN (Life & Times)

by Peter D. Smith

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) hizo, en 1905, que los manuales de ciencia se tuvieran que reescribir. Desde entonces, la física apenas ha sido otra cosa que una serie de notas al pie a las teorías de un empleado de veintiséis años de una oficina de patentes. La ciencia y la vida privada y sentimental de Einstein se unen en este vivido retrato de una figura rebelde y contradictoria, cuya legendaria ecuación E=mc2 abrió los ojos de los científicos a la terrible fuerza contenida en cada átomo. "Para castigarme por mi desprecio de la autoridad —se lamentaba—, el destino me ha convertido a mí mismo en una autoridad."

Genres: Biography, Science, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

See P.D. Smith.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Reviews

[Raj · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short biography of Albert Einstein, of whom I'm somewhat of an admirer. I found the bits about Einstein the man particularly interesting: he found it difficult to relate to women, and he had several affairs while he was married. He also had an illegitimate daughter with the woman who would become his first wife, but all correspondence relating to this was suppressed until recently (after his son, Hans Albert, died). Although some of this has been released, much of it still remains hidden, so very little about this daughter, Lisearl, is known.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent starter bio of Einstein that does not romanticize the man but introduces us to his foibles as well as brilliance with an exceptional use of primary materials. Great modern bio to start your acquaintance with the "real" Einstein, who in many ways differs greatly from the mythic figure we've been taught to admire.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just wanted an introduction to Einstein- to see if I wanted to delve into a bigger biography- I think the answer was yes. I was so impressed- there was a lot I did not know about him- a really well written "summary" of his life and science without being too technical.

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives a pretty full portrait in a rather small space: of his irreverence, wacky sense of humor (and fairly convoluted love life).