Einstein and Relativity: The Big Idea

by Paul Strathern

Paul Strathern (Nietzsche in 90 Minutes, Plato in 90 Minutes) has turned his attention from big philosophers to big ideas, specifically Einstein and Relativity. (Other titles in his Big Idea series... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385492448
• ISBN13: 9780385492447
• Release Date: April 1999
• Publisher: Anchor Books
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.1" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

A very readable short look at the life and work of Einstein

Strathern gives more space in this book to the life of Einstein than to his scientific work. Still he manages to give capsule descriptions of the four great papers of the annus mirabilis of 1905. He also discusses 'General Relativity' and tells an interesting story of how Einstein was in ecstasy for days after hearing about the confirming experiments in 1919. It was that event which made Einstein the mythic figure. Strathern claims that Einstein saw the absurdity in the idol- worship around him but also knew how to play the part of the 'distracted scientist' to the hilt. I learned much about Einstein's life that I did not know. There are touching personal elements. His son Edward had been closely connected to him and then came to hate him when Einstein was divorced. There is not a lot about the familial situation, but apparently Einstein was not a cad. He gave his Nobel money the huge sum of thirty- two thousand dollars to his first wife, the mother of his children. Strathern paints a picture of Einstein's life from 1919 on as a sad one. The whole story of his search for a unified - field- theory the publication of results which met with scientific silence. Einstein's famous 'God does not play dice' rejection of Quantum Theory is seen by Strathern as key element in his scientific isolation. Strathern is very good in presenting the development of the young Einstein. Einstein virtually taught himself everything. His brief experience as the only Jewish child in a tough German military school made him a rebel and opponent to authority for life. Einstein went his own way asked his own questions, and changed our whole picture of the physical world by his doing so. Strathern also commends Einstein for his letter warning about the dangers of the Bomb. He does not however say anything about the key role Einstein played in having Roosevelt move ahead with the Chicago Project to build the Atomic Bomb. Strathern also commends Einstein a lifelong Zionist for his wife refusal of the offer to be President of Israel. This kind of public role was of course unsuited to the character of Einstein. This is a short book and there are many Einstein books which will provide far more information and analysis. But like all Strathern's books it is very well and clearly written, and a fine small book indeed.