Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Einstein  By  cover art

Einstein

By: Walter Isaacson
Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $28.60

Buy for $28.60

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Editorial reviews

Why we think it's Essential: Isaacson is the modern master of the biography, so it was only natural that he turn his pen to Einstein. And more than any biography of the past, Isaacson's account unravels the life behind the brain and provides a full picture of the man who embodied the scientific spirit of the 20th century. Edward Herrmann is stirring and moves effortlessly from humorous anecdotes to scientific theories. — Chris Doheny

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)

Featured Article: The Best Biography Audiobooks to Educate, Fascinate, and Inspire


The best biographies are ranked not only by the scale and skill of their writing, but also by the strength of their subjects. In the audiobook world, these selections are also judged for the quality of their narrative performances, making those that rise to the top all the more excellent. From lighthearted entertainment to inspirational origin stories, these titles represent the best biography audiobooks now ready for your listening pleasure.

What listeners say about Einstein

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10,287
  • 4 Stars
    3,667
  • 3 Stars
    942
  • 2 Stars
    208
  • 1 Stars
    108
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9,020
  • 4 Stars
    2,172
  • 3 Stars
    461
  • 2 Stars
    79
  • 1 Stars
    42
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8,430
  • 4 Stars
    2,548
  • 3 Stars
    645
  • 2 Stars
    115
  • 1 Stars
    60

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

In depth biography on Einstein and the formation of relativity

I liked how Walter showed the humanity of Albert, in both his genius and his life. Got a full run down on the history of his life and an In depth look at the general theory of relativity.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

his life couldn't be told any better

great book great reader and great listening experience. joyfully recommend finding or about Einstein thru this memorable story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Everything you need to know about Einstein!

This was a wonderful book, well written and well read. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it. I always knew Einstein was an unparalleled genius and of his most notable accomplishments, but did not know how interesting he was as a person. Definitely recommend this book to anyone with an interest in knowing about Einstein.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

This is a great book that gives great insight into an extraordinary human being. Well written and well read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Recommend

Overall, a great listen. Really enjoyed it and learned a lot, too. Physics part was OK.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing, insightful, inspiring

i loved it, not only his science, his theories and his life, but also his phylosophy and thought in orher areas of life

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

The math and physics are a little overwhelming

Overall I enjoyed the book. Like some of Isaacson's other works, the story can get drowned in minutia. A little too much time is spent on explaining mathematical formulas and Eistein's theories...some of which is a little tough to follow and understand. By the end of the book, the narration was getting a little stale.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I had to read this in my life

If you could sum up Einstein in three words, what would they be?

Einstein was definitely one of the greatest minds in humanity. His discoveries in science revolutionized physics. This book not only gives you an insight into his mind, his way of thinking and his life, but it also explains you very well all the theories he discovered.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great experience listening to this book

A wonderful and thoughtful book.the reader is excellent . I was concerned that my lack of Physics knowledge would hinder my enjoyment but it didn’t. It sparked my curiosity. This reader is indeed gifted.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just a good book.

If you could sum up Einstein in three words, what would they be?

Informative, emotional, good

What was one of the most memorable moments of Einstein?

Hearing about his passion and struggling through certain things.

Which character – as performed by Edward Herrmann – was your favorite?

N.A.

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

His life and universe.

Any additional comments?

None

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!