Einstein

His Life and Universe

By: Walter Isaacson

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

Length: 21 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the 2008 Audie Award for Biography/Memoir

How did Einstein's mind work? What made him a genius? Isaacson's biography shows how his scientific imagination sprang from the rebellious nature of his personality. His fascinating story is a testament to the connection between creativity and freedom.

Based on the newly released personal letters of Albert Einstein, Walter Isaacson explores how an imaginative, impertinent patent clerk, a struggling father in a difficult marriage who couldn't get a teaching job or a doctorate, became the mind reader of the creator of the cosmos, the locksmith of the mysteries of the atom and the universe. His success came from questioning conventional wisdom and marveling at mysteries that struck others as mundane. This led him to embrace a morality and politics based on respect for free minds, free spirits, and free individuals.

These traits are just as vital for this new century of globalization, in which our success will depend on our creativity, as they were for the beginning of the last century, when Einstein helped usher in the modern age.

It's all relative: listen to more about Albert Einstein.

©2007 Walter Isaacson. All rights reserved (P)2007 Simon and Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Winner, Biography/Memoir, 2008

"[A] lucid account." (Publishers Weekly)
"Isaacson has admirably succeeded in weaving together the complex threads of Einstein's personal and scientific life to paint a superb portrait." (Arthur I. Miller, author of Einstein, Picasso)
"Isaacson has written a crisp, engaging, and refreshing biography, one that beautifully masters the historical literature and offers many new insights into Einstein's work and life." (Diana Kormos Buchwald, General Editor of the Collected Papers of Albert Einstein)

Einstein's Sex Life

This biography is based upon many letters and documents not released until 2006 and this was published in early 2007. This biography is a much more personal and multifaceted biography than any other I have read. It focuses more on Einstein's personal life, family life, and sex life, than details of Einstein's influences on science. This biography portrays Einstein as very human (much more so than any other biography I have read).

There is some science, but you won't be able to solve, even the simplest, special relativity problem after reading this book (unless you could before). You won't suddenly understand general relativity. There is no attached PDF, so you can't really grock the equations of special or general relativity. The best bit of science in the book is the focus on the criticality of rotational symmetry during the development of general relativity. This aspect is often overlooked.

This is definitely a must read for anyone seriously interested in Einstein, but this book might have too much information for some. Certainly I would not recommend this as a first Einstein biography or for young readers.

Great read!

What did you like best about this story?

It is fascinating to learn how this person has revolutionized the world of physics and how his discoveries affect our lives. Excellent read.

Mispronunciation of a common word.

An excellent read. However, the reader (Herrmann) always mispronounces "infinitesimal" as "infitesimal". To educated people (never mind a math or physics person) this shows ignorance of a very basic word (and misreads it, to boot).

A biography of Einstein. Brilliant idea!

Definitely worth pondering the universe with Einstein as a guide. What initially shocked me was how Einstein did not allow limitations of available data to prevent him from overturning dogma. Einstein's application of thought experiments and postulates of essential principles allowed him to work backwards & propose experiments that would later confirm his intuitions. Today, essential principles of scientific thought are being assailed by men who lack conviction or common decency, who disregard evidence, but who hold vast political power. It's worth using attributes that explain what made Einstein unique & his life experiences, especially his stubborn individualism & freedom of thought, as guides for resisting the pathologies that threaten American democracy.

Everything I wanted to know about Einstein!

Wonderfully written. Beautifully read. I bought the book too. So much I wanted to go back and refer to. Don't pass this one up.

A great human being; a great scientist

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

To a friend interested in a great human's being life - yes because the book details in multiple dimensions the issues and challenges that Einstein faced and those that he overcame.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Einstein?

His staying in Germany during Hitler's rise - to work in the Country that was thought to be the pinnacle for Theoretical Physics.

What does Edward Herrmann bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Pleasant voice - language pronunciation - understanding of the technical concepts.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A Great Human Being - a great man.

Any additional comments?

Review: Einstein – His life & universe
Walter Isaacson

Overall: 4*/5*
Story: 5*5*
Perf: 4*/5*

Tag Line: Interesting & Readable book about a great man and a great scientist.

Book provides readable examples, context and perspective about Einstein. Book provides the layperson a basic understanding of his ground-breaking theories.
One needs to “pay attention” – during technical discussions (which is “as it should be”) – but the basics can be grasped with the reader’s concentration.

A significant portion of the book relates to Einstein’s personal life – his two wives – his life in Germany during the rise of Hitler – his transition to life in America – and his advocacy for “World Government” and his other political engagements.

A layperson could say this book represents a “balanced” viewpoint about Einstein – as it documents the factors that led to his early successes (ability to create thought experiments, his ability to work with a small ‘network’ of friends and his willingness to challenge existing authority) – sever him less well in his later years when he implemented a “rear guard action” against Quantum physics.

A very readable biography detailing multiple dimensions of both a great human being and a great scientist.

Carl Gallozzi
[e-mail]

Inside one of the greatest minds in history

The history of Einstein's life was fascinating. From his almost unimaginable developing of new theory to his difficulties in his own life. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Very insightful

Definitely a must read if you have any interest in science or Einstein.

My favourite quote came at the end of the book:

“Brief is this existence, as a visit in a strange house. The path to be pursued is poorly lit by a flickering consciousness.”
― Albert Einstein

Brilliant

Great narration and story. Really enjoyed this long but captivating book. Some say it's technical... It's not.

Interesting Book on a Great Man

The author writes a thoroughly interesting book on a fascinating man. The writing style is engaging and interesting. The only problem areas are when he tries to explain some of the more technical aspects of Einstein's work. This is a bit hard to follow in the audio. All in all, a book well worth getting.