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Einstein  By  cover art

Einstein

By: Walter Isaacson
Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
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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
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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book if a little long

Would you consider the audio edition of Einstein to be better than the print version?

Yes, there's no way I could have made it through reading the book. It was perfect for my morning commute.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Einstein?

I had no idea he was such a ladies man. I was also pretty shocked by the story of his first child and his reaction to that child.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good overview with lots of details

I zoned out through some of the science talk, but believe I understood a lot of it. There was enough life drama mixed with the science to keep me interested to the end. The narrator has a great voice and Einstein had an interesting life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Einstein. the human being.

Bio presents a clear understanding of Einstein's intellectual brilliance as both scientist and humanist. Portrayal of Einstein's successes and failures provide an invaluable lesson to the power of imagination and humility.

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Besr science history book

Where does Einstein rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very top

What other book might you compare Einstein to and why?

The book combines the personal biography with a clear exposition of his scientific contributions. It stands in sharp contrast with Galileo biography by James Reston, Jr., in which the science is almost a side line.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The explanation of relativity theory in a non-mathematical manner, and Einstein contribution to underanding the reality of atoms and molecules.

Any additional comments?

A model of what scientific biography should be

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiring

An inspiring book about a great person. Read beautifully. Unabridged is long but certainly worth it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

GENIUS

Excellent in all respects. Recommend for anyone with an interest science in science, math or genius.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Passionately curious

Einstein's focus and passion is something beyond admirable and something I want to have as well. How can someone learn to be passionately curious?

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Einstein

Nice book about a very interesting man. Well written, I would have liked to hear more of a perspective from family, especially children.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Very Entertaining and Educational Experience

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

Most certainly. There is lot to learn from this genius of a man.

What did you like best about this story?

The sharp contrast between the different facets of his remarkable life

Which scene was your favorite?

His thought experiments

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

His emotions at the death of his mother

Any additional comments?

On the whole a very rich, informative and fascinating story of the greatest scientist of the twentieth century who is in fact far more than that.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful book

Inspiring story of not so much what Einstein knew about physics and math, but how he thought about them that made him so different from other geniuses. He went against the grain of science and often his teachers, resulting in a long wait to get his first "real" job. A humble, interesting men, who was adored by women. Never seemed to be without one, actually.

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