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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)

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What listeners say about Einstein

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Excellent

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

The reader was, as usual, very clear and easy to understand.

Any additional comments?

I was very interested in the content of this book. Being the biography of a genius, I didn't expect it to be exciting on every page, and it wasn't. But it was interesting on every page.

Isaacson told the Einstein story without taking off down any irrelevant rabbit holes.He stayed on track. And he did a great job explaining the scientific concepts in layman terms.

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GREAT BOOK!

The book was very well written.
I didnt get to understand as much of Einstein's theories as I had hoped to, but I got to know him as a person and thinker very well.

I loved the narrator even more!

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This book is about few things...

This book is about few things. First, how simple actually is the theory of special relativity -- one should think in very simple terms, but totally out of the box. This book is also about visualized thought experiments. And last but not least, about Albert Einstein's importance outside of science - as a Jew and a Pacifist.

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Genius is persistent

This bio of Albert Einstein was a fascinating and deep sketch of a man who was convicted by the idea that the universe should make sense. because of his deep understanding of math and science, he had a complex picture of what he thought God might be, and he had a fervent belief that man should strive to aspire to compassion and speak against tyranny. He was a product of both his time, and of his own making, and while he was not perfect and had very difficult family frictions, he was a complicated and deeply interesting person. From learning a little bit about him in this book, you can see what captured the imagination of the public and why he has become a pop culture icon of scientific thinking.

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  • 05-02-21

Beautiful tale of amazing human

Always Hard to believe that humans like this have existed. Hope someone like this comes around again. Well written and read

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Excellent

I did not know a lot about Einstein or physics prior to starting this book. But I feel I learned a lot, and enjoyed it!

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Enjoyed it!!

Nicely written with just enough physics to not lose my attention. Loved the narrater. Would recommend

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life changing

Life changing. I really enjoyed the citations of Albert. I will try to use them in my daily life

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Amazing Story of an Amazing Human

Narration was spectacular. The hugeness of Einstein's thoughts were conveyed in easy to understand ways. Compelling story of a unique existence.

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Audible Einstein

This is what audible books was meant for. I hope you enjoy it as much as I.

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