The Most Insurgent Scientist
Many people have heard of Einstein, “he’s the really smart guy with the crazy hair.” Yes, he is that, but he is so much more than just the picture students see of him in their science classes. Einsteins is one, if not the, most influential scientific figures this world has ever seen. Walter Isaacson delves deep into Einstein's life to tell us that he is more than just the commercialized image we see him as today. Einstein His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson tells the story of a hardworking, humorous, and rebellious man that defined the standards for scientists everywhere. Isaacson expounds the great physicists beliefs in not only science, but also life.
In this tale of Einstein's life we get a deeper understanding …show more content…
His serious, blunt, and even humorous tones in his letters gave the reader a personal connection to this most famous brainiac. In his letters to his friends and loved ones he would address them in a range from “you frozen whale” to “my beloved sweetheart.” Also through these papers he shows Einstein’s real thoughts and reactions during his life, and during the important events that happened during it. Einstein is infamous for being known as a loner, but, through these papers he shows how he could develop a deep personal connection with someone. His friend, Max Born, would recall after the death of Einstein's second wife, “For all his kindness, sociability, and love of humanity he was nevertheless totally detached from his environment and the human beings in it”(442). Without private documents like these we would not known the personal and emotional said that Einstein had. The author also aims to answer question he proposes the reader as the story goes along. Questions such as,“So what made Einstein cede the revolutionary road to younger radicals and spin into a defensive crouch”(333 Isaacson)? These set up for the topic Isaacson is about to divulge deeper into. He would ultimately answer these questions in a clear, precise way, making complex issues easier to …show more content…
Isaacson emphasizes Einstein's rebellion to show us how it truly led him to become this iconic figure students see in their everyday science classes. Readers without a general knowledge of physics might find it hard to understand each individual part of Einstein's complicated theories. But, Isaacsons use of laymen terms and examples help readers understand the broad idea of them. “If the source of sound is rushing towards you the waves will not get to you any faster. However, in what is known to be the Doppler effect, the waves will be compressed and the interval between them will be smaller”(119 Isaacson). Explanations like these allows the reader to get a better grasp of the enormous effect Einstein had on science, especially in the realm of relativity.
Isaacsons story inspires the readers to question all things. Einstein's story shows how questioning the big, and even little things in society can lead people to greatness. Therefore, Walter Isaacson's recount of Albert Einstein's life was an interesting and complicated story that he writes with grace. Overall, Isaacson's story is one everyone should have on their bookshelves.
Bibliography:
Isaacson, Walter. Einstein: His Life and Universe. Waterville, Me.: Thorndike, 2007.
Many people have heard of Einstein, “he’s the really smart guy with the crazy hair.” Yes, he is that, but he is so much more than just the picture students see of him in their science classes. Einsteins is one, if not the, most influential scientific figures this world has ever seen. Walter Isaacson delves deep into Einstein's life to tell us that he is more than just the commercialized image we see him as today. Einstein His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson tells the story of a hardworking, humorous, and rebellious man that defined the standards for scientists everywhere. Isaacson expounds the great physicists beliefs in not only science, but also life.
In this tale of Einstein's life we get a deeper understanding …show more content…
His serious, blunt, and even humorous tones in his letters gave the reader a personal connection to this most famous brainiac. In his letters to his friends and loved ones he would address them in a range from “you frozen whale” to “my beloved sweetheart.” Also through these papers he shows Einstein’s real thoughts and reactions during his life, and during the important events that happened during it. Einstein is infamous for being known as a loner, but, through these papers he shows how he could develop a deep personal connection with someone. His friend, Max Born, would recall after the death of Einstein's second wife, “For all his kindness, sociability, and love of humanity he was nevertheless totally detached from his environment and the human beings in it”(442). Without private documents like these we would not known the personal and emotional said that Einstein had. The author also aims to answer question he proposes the reader as the story goes along. Questions such as,“So what made Einstein cede the revolutionary road to younger radicals and spin into a defensive crouch”(333 Isaacson)? These set up for the topic Isaacson is about to divulge deeper into. He would ultimately answer these questions in a clear, precise way, making complex issues easier to …show more content…
Isaacson emphasizes Einstein's rebellion to show us how it truly led him to become this iconic figure students see in their everyday science classes. Readers without a general knowledge of physics might find it hard to understand each individual part of Einstein's complicated theories. But, Isaacsons use of laymen terms and examples help readers understand the broad idea of them. “If the source of sound is rushing towards you the waves will not get to you any faster. However, in what is known to be the Doppler effect, the waves will be compressed and the interval between them will be smaller”(119 Isaacson). Explanations like these allows the reader to get a better grasp of the enormous effect Einstein had on science, especially in the realm of relativity.
Isaacsons story inspires the readers to question all things. Einstein's story shows how questioning the big, and even little things in society can lead people to greatness. Therefore, Walter Isaacson's recount of Albert Einstein's life was an interesting and complicated story that he writes with grace. Overall, Isaacson's story is one everyone should have on their bookshelves.
Bibliography:
Isaacson, Walter. Einstein: His Life and Universe. Waterville, Me.: Thorndike, 2007.