EINSTEIN – THE MAN AND HIS MIND
BY GARY S. BERGER & MICHAEL DIRUGGIERO
A biography examines Albert Einstein not only as a scientist, but also as a private man who held deep moral and philosophical convictions.
As Berger observes in the preface, the indelible imprint Einstein’s work left on the canvas of modern physics has made his name “synonymous with genius.” He reinvented the field—his theory of general relativity had ramifications for the whole cosmos and helped illuminate the movement of planets, the emergence of black holes, the foundations of the Big Bang, and the character of gravity as well as many other theoretical principles. The theory also contributed to a bevy of practical applications like GPS systems. But he was much more than a scientist—he was a staunch supporter of civil rights, a “militant pacifist” who advocated nuclear disarmament, and an enthusiastic music lover. Berger and DiRuggiero limn an intriguing peek into Einstein’s “informal life,” one in which the famed scientist expressed his “soft and tender” side. They also take readers on a tour of his intellectual life, a panoramic view of Einstein’s thought process that deftly illumines his prohibitively complex scientific theories. For example, while Einstein pined to understand the world as it really exists, he also believed that physics rested on axiomatic assumptions that were dubious: “It is basic for all physics that one assumes a real world existing independently from any act of perception. But this we do not know. We take it only as a programme in our scientific endeavours.” The book includes a remarkable collection of photographs—Berger has spent his life amassing them as well as documents related to Einstein’s life, an archive to which DiRuggiero has made significant contributions. One obvious paradox of Einstein’s legacy is cleverly summed up by a remark made by Charlie Chaplin on meeting him: “The whole world admires you, even though they don’t understand a word of what you say.”
Even though Einstein’s fame is universal, very few truly comprehend its basis, let alone the man who was more than a brilliant physicist. The authors set out to correct this hole in the public’s understanding of Einstein on two fronts—his theoretical innovations and his life beyond them. On the first score, they articulate an impressively accessible account of the development of his thought process, one that limpidly captures its essential elements. But the true achievement of the book is the depiction of Einstein as a private citizen, the man who profoundly regretted once supporting the American development of an atomic bomb. Einstein is portrayed as a man capable of great philosophical doubts despite his towering intellectual accomplishments: “As for the search for truth, I know from my own painful searching, with its many blind alleys, how hard it is to take a reliable step, be it ever so small, towards the understanding of that which is truly significant.” For those already acquainted with Einstein’s life in its totality, the volume is still worthwhile for the assemblage of iconic and rare photographs of the man at various stages of his life. This account of Einstein’s life is a touch gushing—his infamous character flaws, including his tortured relations with his family and colleagues, are not fully addressed. Nevertheless, this is a marvelous introduction to one of the greatest minds of the 20th century.
A captivating depiction of Einstein that’s adorned with arresting photography.
