Einstein: His Life and Universe

By Walter Isaacson

Einstein is the great icon of our age: the kindly refugee from oppression whose wild halo of hair, twinkling eyes, engaging humanity and extraordinary brilliance made his face a symbol and his name a synonym for genius. He was a rebel and nonconformist from boyhood days. His character, creativity and imagination were related, and they drove both his life and his science. In this marvelously clear and accessible narrative, Walter Isaacson explains how his mind worked and the mysteries of the universe that he discovered.

Einstein's success came from questioning conventional wisdom and marveling at mysteries that struck others as mundane. This led him to embrace a worldview based on respect for free spirits and free individuals. All of which helped make Einstein into a rebel but with a reverence for the harmony of nature, one with just the right blend of imagination and wisdom to transform our understanding of the universe. This new biography, the first since all of Einstein's papers have become available, is the fullest picture yet of one of the key figures of the twentieth century.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Sep 4, 2008
• ISBN: 9781847395894

Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson is the bestselling author of biographies of Jennifer Doudna, Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, and Albert Einstein. He is a professor of history at Tulane and was CEO of the Aspen Institute, chair of CNN, and editor of Time. He was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2023. Visit him at Isaacson.Tulane.edu.

Reviews for Einstein

[kaulsu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a great book: so readable, even for a non-science, non-math person like me. I loved that the pathologist at Princeton Hospital, who performed the autopsy on him (after death and before cremation) stole his brain, embalmed it, made slices of it, and randomly gave pieces away until he was in his 80s. All without permission from anyone. Dr. Harvey was a Quaker!!Einstein had my sympathies throughout, for the most part. His relationship with women was nothing to be proud of, but his take on the new state of Israel showed sagacity. Without humane treatment if the Arabs who lived there, there would never be peace. Another book that needs a reread!

[nkmunn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Here's a chance to become more intimately acquainted with an exceptional life that straddles both world wars, a biography that introduces the reader to the histories of England, Germany, Switzerland, England, Israel, Italy and Japan in relation to both conflicts .

The pre & post war economies, businesses, and careers possible as described here seem a world away from today. Seeing them from the perspective of Einsteins life, his family's ups and downs , and the way they separate colleagues, couples, siblings, parents and children forces the reader to consider the wars as more than a VE Day vignette .

More than a history of 20th century physics, here is also an in depth look at the personalities who shaped the way we look at today's universe and the concepts they entertained, pursued, and developed.

This bio shows many of the false starts and might have beens as Einstein sought entrance at school, later tried and failed to gained teaching posts, and a gainful occupation. His romantic and family life were similarly a series of trial and error, pleasure and sorrow.

But, perhaps most remarkably here too is a celebration of music, a life that intersects with politics and academia, with loves great and small for sailing, tobacco, the comforts of home.

In the end it's images of small things like a knife in a lakeside cottage in Germany that I will remember about this remarkable man and his unusual life.

[msaucier818 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This another book that I have a hard time reviewing. Isaacson is an outstanding writer who certainly knows how to tell a story. However, I was simply not gripped by this one. Even with the layman's breakdown, I still had a hard time following much of the science explanations dealing with Einstein and his ideas. Also, I did not care at all for Einstein the person. I felt he was condescending toward women and terrible to women closest to him. He never even met his first child and was distant and incredibly selfish in his attitude toward his other children. I know he did great things in science and was a cultural icon for his time, but I could not get past how little he cared for his family.

[cat1ballou · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ok, even though I complained about the deification of Einstein in Albert Einstein: Creator andRebel, it's totally my tendency to idolize him. I know, I'm just a ball of contradictions. I appreciate that Isaacson was able to keep him human by reminding me that he had faults - significant ones.

[scartertn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After achieving nearly mythical status as a genius this book brings Einstein back to down to human level. A complete biography from the beginning to the end of his life. The author shows us his humble beginnings as a child to his never-ending quest on his death bed to solve the riddles of the universe.

[dirac_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Quite the good bio. Strange that so many people who know so little about him, blame him for so much. Sad really. The read slowed down at times. Not sure if that was pacing or if it was my time constrictions. I did not know much about Mr. Einstein's personal world prior to reading this and it was a solid read...enjoyable.

[kirklowery · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Remarkably clear exposition of Einstein's theories for the general reader. It's an intellectual biography as much as a "life and times" bio. Very readable.

[jawalter · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's a little strange to read a biography of Albert Einstein, if only because he's such a larger-than-life figure that it seems as though we already know all about him. So I guess what I found most amusing about this book is just how accurate those preconceptions are. Genius? Check. Kind, charming, absent-minded professorial type? Check. Outsider and scientific rebel? Check.

Don't get me wrong, though. There's more to the man than the archetype, although the book doesn't dig too deeply. His distant relationships with friends and family, for example, are not something I ever would have imagined, although this makes sense when you think about it. It was also interesting to realize that aside from his miracle year of 1905 and his discovery of the general theory of relativity a decade or so later, he spent more time being wrong than right. On the one hand, this is just a consequence of being a scientist, but after changing physics in so many ways, it's more than a little disheartening to see the man refuse to accept the consequences of his theories: namely quantum mechanics. His quixotic quest for a unified field theory instead of participating in the debate over quantum physics seems like a great loss to scientific progress.

On a personal note, I was amused to find myself in complete agreement with Einstein on this matter. Despite all the evidence, I just can't convince myself to accept the non-causal universe mandated by quantum physics. I know I should just accept the findings of all the much more intelligent scientists who've concluded that we live in a world determined by probabilities rather than strict cause-and-effect mechanics, but I just can't convince myself to do it.

[hcubic · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What were personal qualities of the greatest scientist of the twentieth century that differentiated him from his contemporaries? I have read a lot of books about Albert Einstein, who was one of my childhood heroes (along with the Lone Ranger). We had a lot in common - the violin and physics, although he was said to enjoy music practice more than I did, and he was said to be tolerant of kids who liked science. I never got to meet my hero; he died when I was 15. None of those books that I have read about him, until this one by Walter Isaacson, satisfactorily addressed the the questions about the person behind the scientist that I longed to have answered. Even the author admits (on NPR) that there may be better popular books about Einstein's science, for example Abraham Pais' "Subtle is the Lord", but Walter Isaacson was the first writer to get access to Einstein's voluminous archive of personal correspondence. With that, he was able to put together the most intimate history available. The results are not all sweetness. Einstein was a pretty awful family man, and he had a sizable ego (although he tried to appear modest in public). Isaacson does a good job with the science, too. Despite not being a scientist himself, he acknowledges the help of some excellent physicists (including Brian Greene, Lawrence Krass, Douglas Stone, Murray Gell-Mann, David Mermin, and Gerald Holton, among others). With advisors like those, you can't go far wrong, and Isaacson doesn't. This is a book for you and your students.

[bragan_8 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Now, this is exactly what a biography should be. It's through, lucid, and well-organized, and covers the personal, scientific, and political aspects of Einstein's life in a balanced and interesting fashion. It's well-written, featuring some pleasingly apt turns of phrase, but, commendably, Isaacson never lets his own voice overwhelm that of his subject. The scientific concepts behind Einstein's work are well-presented, too, in a way that carefully avoids any of the all-too-common popular misinterpretations but shouldn't prove too overwhelming for the layman. And, of course, it's about a brilliant and fascinating man. Definitely recommended if a biography of Einstein is something you feel even remotely interested in reading.

[threlicus · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As someone who only rarely reads biographies, I didn't expect to like this very much. Indeed, it wasn't the kind of plot-filled novel that I tend to like, which is why I only give it 3 stars. However, for a person who enjoys biography, I can recommend this book pretty highly. It was told in a not strictly sequential fashion (appropriate for the discoverer of relativity), and occasionally repeated itself on bits that had already been mentioned out of time order, but this was only jarring in a couple of instances. In general, though, it was full of interesting information on the man's life and his physics. Being a physicist myself, I can attest that the descriptions of the science included in the book are basically accurate, if somewhat simplified (as you might expect); but I have no idea how helpful they are for a layman's understanding of the physics, since I have the unfair advantage of already knowing what the theories say. ;)

[tbert204_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Isaacson assembles a biography with enough details to make a high school English student puke, but it creates a complete picture of one of the world's most famous scientists. Einstein's charisma is clearly illustrated in this text, from personal relationships to his obsessive pursuit to explain the universe. It took me 6 weeks to read partly because I'm a slow reader, partly because the book is heavy, but mostly because I enjoyed the ride. I'm no physics major but managed to comprehend many of Isaacson's presentations of Einstein's theories and thought experiments, most of which I've forgotten by now. By and far, it was most satisfying to look inside his personal life, how he married his cousin (you read that right), never wore socks, was truly absent-minded, and was still working on his theories on his deathbed.

[bill_masom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

To the unscientific, this book is readable. It does discuss his discoveries, but in a way you should be able to at least grasp some meaning from them.It isn't all science. It explores his personal and political life, and the events of rather interesting times that buffeted him, and helped shape his politics.All and all, a great read, about a very fascinating man, warts and all. Did not regret reading one single page of the book

[mrminjares · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Albert Einstein to me was a philosopher, who used principally his imagination and logic to arrive at truths about the universe. These were physical and mathematical truths, but they were also social and moral truths.In science, he made a series of brilliant discoveries in 1905 including revelations about light quanta, brownian motion, and relativity. Ten years later, with help from friends who understood non-Euclidean geometry, he put forward the general theory of relativity.His theories of relativity were especially groundbreaking, since they showed that absolute time and absolute space do not exist. He showed that these things are relative, so that light and matter bend as gravity and acceleration increase. It was incredible for me to learn that Einstein was a poor mathematician, who had made these discoveries in his mind, but needed the math skills of others to put all of the necessary equations on paper to generate the necessary proofs.How did Einstein achieve these discoveries? He had an incredible ability to visualize complex problems and their solutions. His general theory of relativity was derived in large measure from thought experiments which revealed to him ways in which acceleration and gravity are one and the same.He was at heart a curious man, and also a free thinker who was repulsed by authority and dogma. Had he been a professor and not a patent clerk while pursuing his early investigations, his incentives to play it safe with his theories may have prevented such revolutionary ideas to appear in such rapid succession.He was a fervent defender of free thought and free action, and saw the defense of these things as an essential role of government. He wore no socks, did not comb his hair, and cared little about what others thought of him. He held very strong views and was never hesitant to disagree and to state his reasons.Einstein followed his incredible scientific accomplishments with a transition to a role as public proponent for social and moral ideals such as a world government with the ability to halt all wars. He was a pacifist who made early arguments against joining the military, then later advocated for the use of military purely for defense. He was also a proud Jew and advocate for a Jewish state, although he expressed concern about the ability of Jews to get along well with their Arab neighbors. He launched an international scientific initiative to prevent nuclear warfare.But Einstein was at heart a kind soul, who was playful and curious as a child. He was humble, unpretentious, joking, witty, and tolerant. He was an artist, who wrote love poems to the women he loved. And he played the violin, especially pieces by Mozart, because the beauty of these things inspired him. He was a gentle man, who despite his incredible contributions to this world, wished that his ashes be spread on the Delaware River so that no one would venerate him. Still, his contributions live on.

[nicky_too_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

At times I struggled with this book. Apparently Albert Einstein knew how to explain his theories in a simple way, Walter Isaacson doesn't know how to do that. Add to that the fact that I'm notoriously bad at anything scientific and you will see the problem.Notwithstanding the obvious struggle, I did think this is a very interesting book. Before I bought this book I didn't know much (I should say: I knew nothing really) about Albert Einstein. All I had ever heard was the reputation that he was a difficult man, without emotion, scruffy, untidy. When I saw him on tv, I thought that couldn't be right. His eyes were too soft, friendly. That's when I decided I wanted to know more and this biography proves me right. He comes across as a very friendly and sweet person. Apparently he wasn't always an easy man, but who is? :-)After all, I think he was a fascinating man and I'm glad I read this book.

[helengress · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this book very interesting. Einstein's personal life certainly did not match the commonly held beliefs about him. The book offers much about his marital issues, the relationships he had (or didn't have) with his three children and his two wives in addition to thoroughly detailing his scientific breakthroughs. The description of his intense dislike of nationalism, his pacifism , his innate curiosity and his disregard for authority and convention is described in detail. The American love-hate for him is also very well described. He was both superstar and pariah depending on what era you are thinking about. The anti- McCarthyism stance didn't jive with the 'American- love us or leave us' mob mentality- which he associated quite clearly with the pre- WW II antisemitism of Europe.

[halesso-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An excellent biography of a great scientist. It's strength is the portrayal of the man's foibles, as well as, his intellectual accomplishments. By understanding his life experiences, we see more clearly his drive to learn and discover about his own nature, as well as Nature.

[bfertig_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

plenty in here for physicists, other scientists, and general readers - his life, his science, his times. I suppose he was man of the century for a reason. it's plenty readable, and there are some great quotes included. shame he had such a poor family life. I did enjoy the epilogue about his brain and its wanderings through the years - wish we had a better idea of what to do with it!

[zoharlaor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found this book fascinating and interesting, yet a bit more of a difficult read than Mr. Isaacson's biography of Benjamin Franklin. However, the author does a good job reconciling the physics genius with the rascally young ideologue and later with the icon we all think of when we hear the name "Einstein".As in his other biographies, Isaacson brings forth wonderful little anecdotes through personal letters and stories which, I feel, let us separate the man from the myth and let us know what the man was truly like. The personal letters, quick wit and even tyrannical impulses let the reader understand this complex man as a man, not a pillar of the scientific community. Not only is the young Einstein a fascinating character, but the older one - the one who spent his life fighting authority only to become the authority - also comes alive.As for science, this book is neither here nor there. If you understand some of the physics then it will be a nice review, if you don't then you won't understand it after finishing reading either. But that's not the point of the book anyway.Personally I found the chapter about Einstein's religious beliefs fascinating and enlightening. If a few more people in the world feel like him, that science and religions are complimentary ("Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind") this world will be a more peaceful place.

[psiloiordinary_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An excellent read. Enjoyable, thought provoking, touching and inspiring.At six hundred odd pages including a comprehensive index and sources list this is not a quick read. Nevertheless, once I had started I did not consider the size of it until I reached the end, and then it was only in disappointment that I had finished already.Sumptuous detail about the man and the times in which he lived. Human, frail even naive but with a fiercely glowing flame of character and strong basic principles of goodness. So we get a fascinating view of a thoughtful and fundamentally peaceful man, living as best he can through a confused and violent period of history, with fame piled on to his shoulders together with the weight of the expectation of the easy and regular dispensation of wisdom in any area of human concern.Some of the stranger aspects of his life, that I had previously read about, certainly seemed to make more sense when viewed in the totality of his life even though total empathy is impossible from the written word alone.I also found this inspiring as someone trying to learn about science, and as a father.Go read it.

[itbgc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved reading this book except for one thing: The physics portions of the book were quite lengthy and so far over my head. Alas, I've never taken a physics class, which I regretted while reading this book. I heartily recommend this book to others. It's a long book but well worth the time to read.

[cecrow · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a well-written book - bravo! Isaacson tackles a man known for complex ideas and produces an easy-to-read, to-the-point biography that respectfully captures Einstein's personal side as well as his scientific achievements, and briefly touches on many of his amazing contemporaries. I was able to grasp the scientific concepts conveyed about as well as I ever will, thanks to great metaphorical descriptions and examples. I'll enjoy being less in the dark when this scientist and his theories are referred to in the news - something that (coincidentally?) occurred several times during the month I was reading this. Some of the theory still goes over my head, but thanks to its presentation I could always appreciate the direction each step of Einstein's research and theories was taking. This being the only biography I've read about Einstein, I can't measure what it gained from the additional source material that was made available in 2006. But this author, a former Time editor, has earned my admiration for the remarkable restraint of his writing style and his avoidance of unnecessarily flowery script. He avoids temptation to exaggerate, even confessing in a few places that while such-and-such might make a better story, the truth is actually so-and-so. Clearly he admires his subject, but not to the extent of irrational hero-worship that would have made this a weaker product. Nearly a hundred pages of reference notes at the back of the volume testify to the amount of background research invested. I will definitely consider reading other biographies by Walter Isaacson, particularly the one of Benjamin Franklin.

[clif_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a well written biography of the famous physicist. Unfortunately, the details of his family life are not as outstanding as his abilities as as scientist. Read in August, 2007

[bfrost_19 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Einstein was an amazing character and this book gets right into his life. If never ceases to amaze me that so much of the experimentation of Einstein was done in his imagination. He conducted and tested his theories in thought experiments. Titled "His Life and Universe", the book places his many discoveries in the context of his private life and the circumstances of the society in which he was living. The stories of his struggles with racism and nazi opposition are prior to WW2 are engaging. If you are like me and have trouble following the scientific stuff this book can be hard going. It is also very long. I was hoping it would contain some of the many quotes that are attributed to E. There were none.The book is really helpful in getting the Einstein the Man - and is worth the read for that reason alone.

[cecilia_johnson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had to put it down for a while and read another book about half way through. I got bogged down in the quantum physics, relativity theory, etc. At first his personal life put me off but as I continued to read I really began to appreciate his willingness to live life on his own terms. His flaws helped to shape his imagination and his mind.

[nielsengw_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Isaacson was the first to has access to the entirety of Albert Einstein personal papers and manuscripts (held captive by long-time assistant Helen Dukas), and has now produced the best biography of the greatest thinker of our age. Einstein's ability to harmonize disparate theories, to fully and unabashedly apply Ockham's Razor, to see the simple in the complex, was the cornerstone of his genius. He blended light, gravity, space, and time, and created a new science for the world to use. His journey from unemployed teacher to international celebrity to pacifist extraordinaire is now completely told by an amazing storyteller. An excellent read.

[ajlewis2_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My second Isaacson biography. I love the way he walks us through the life of Einstein. At times I sensed I was experiencing him from within. Isaacson covers the whole gamut of Einstein's life. I feel I got the whole picture of the man. The narration on this audiobook was very good. It took me a long time to finish the book, because I was listening about 20 minutes a day 4 times a week (treadmill).

[bricker-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A thorough account of Einstein's life and contributions to the sciences and society as a whole.

[razinha-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent! Isaacson portrays the life of the Albert Einstein in all his brilliance and warts. This biography, much like Isaacson's Franklin bio, is thoroughly engaging, incredibly researched and documented and a wonderful insight into arguably the greatest intellect of the 20th century.

[realbigcat · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a very well written in depth biography of one of the greatest thinkers who ever lived. Einstein by Walter Issacson is a great book. Because of the in depth subject matter on the theory of relativity and quantum theory the book at times can be very overwhelming to the non scientific reader. While I appreciated the detail on Einstein greatest theory's it did become difficult to follow. I more enjoyed reading about Einsteins relationships with women his wives and children and his fellow scientists. The book also covers his political, religious and social views. I found the book full of interesting facts about a great nan who is still so well known today. I would highly recommend this book for any science student or those who enjoy reading historical biographies.