Ideas and Opinions by Albert Einstein Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Ideas and Opinions
Book Review: Magnifying glass, please!
Summary: 3 Stars
I like the book, but didn't realize the print would be so small! I can hardly read it.Book Review: Other sides of the great scientific genius
Summary: 5 Stars
In some sense we all live in the age of Einstein. His major discoveries at the turn of the twentieth century in the papers published in his annus mirabilis 1905 totally changed the way mankind thought about the physical world. In these papers he helped lay the basis not only of special relativity but of quantum theory. Einstein later went on to extend our understanding of the universe with his more comprehensive theory of general relativity which was confirmed in the famous experiment of 1919. Einstein spent the latter years of his life looking apparently unsuccessfuly for a unified field theory which would unite all the forces of nature.
Einstein was a legend in his own time, one of the icons of the twentieth century. He played an important historical role when he helped forward the Manhattan Project and the US effort to build an atomic bomb. This is a step he had great regrets about. And the irony and painful truth is that this gentle man was responsible for the discovery which helped give Mankind for the first time in its history the power to wholly destroy itself. The truth is however, however Einstein may have regretted this the conversion of matter to energy which made the bomb possible would have been discovered by someone else.
These writings contain a wide variety of work on a wide variety of subjects. He writes on friends, and on freedom on education and on religion, on politics, government and pacifism.He writes on the Jewish people on Anti- Semitism on Zionism, and on his connection with the Jewish people.He writes on his relation to his native Germany. And he writes on his contributions to science.
One does not have to always agree with him to respect his greatness, his humility, his intellectual integrity and his devotion to truth and to mankind.
He like all scientists before him even Newton ' stands on the shoulders of giants' But in our time and for it seems the foreseeable future to come he is the greatest giant of all.
And the consequences of his work, and the questions raised by him will be with us for so long as mankind seeks to comprehend the world.
Book Review: Overall, recommanded.
Summary: 4 Stars
This book has two parts that I am not sure go togather. In the first part (p. 1-216) the authir presents his views on politics, religion, humanity and other such topics. It was the interest in these topics that prompted me to read the book. In the second part (p. 217-377) Prof. Einstein discusses his analytical work. I must admit that not beeing a Physicist, at times I was not able to follow. For that reason I cannot comment on that part of the book. Overall, I would recommand reading this book if only for its first part.Book Review: Penetrates to the heart and soul of an amazing intellect
Summary: 5 Stars
"Ideas and Opinions" reveals much about the thought processes, culture, and observations that shaped the character of Albert Einstein. In a remarkable series of insightful short prose selections, the reader learns a great deal about Einstein's views on morality and ethics; religion, particularly Judaism; government; the arts, literature, and higher education; philosophy; and government. His personal letters to and observations about other key persons of his time including Shaw, Freud, Gandhi, and Lorentz illustrate what a fully integrated individual Einstein truly was, a view that may counter some of the extreme depictions that render him a genius incapable of focusing beyond his science. Having some many thoughts from this astounding intellect pulled into one volume makes this book a worthwhile addition to the stack of rainy day books. It's a book to be consumed in fits and starts, with a cup of coffee on the screened porch in the rain, a treat for inquiring minds.
The prose, perhaps a tad stilted by modern standards, is lucid. And seeing Einstein turn his attention on the topic everyone wrangles with forges a new link to him and his work. As he stated, " The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking."
Book Review: Something to read before you live this world
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very enlightening read. It takes you into the mind of a absolutely brilliant man to see his "ideas and opinions", sorry for the pun.
Honestly, i wasnt expecting a collection of his letters/speeches/lectures..etc but it was a nice surprise. It's much better than having some author display how they 'assumed' he thought.
The book can be tough to read at times (keep in mind he is a genius) but you can always search for certain topics that interest you. Everything from his theories of relativity and brownian motion to his family life are covered, so every reader could find something to relate to.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in first-hand ideas about Einstein or anyone looking to expand their mind.