| Publication Overview A peerless introduction to the man, his life and his scientific theories.
It is now 100 years since Albert Einstein, at the time an unknown patent clerk in Switzerland, published the first of his papers introducing relativity theory. This is therefore an appropriate moment to issue a new book about him.
Andrew Robinson is well qualified to write it: he is himself a research scientist, and since 1994 has been the literary editor of the Times Higher Educational Supplement. His book is published in association with the Albert Einstein archives of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The subtitle is "A Hundred Years of Relativity" and the first part of the book deals mainly with pure science. It’s so clearly written that even readers with no prior knowledge can follow it.
The second half, subtitled "The Man" is devoted to Einstein's life, and is immensely illuminating. He may have been "the most famous man in the world," but despite all his good works his character was by no means flawless – he was a poor husband and father. Yet his influence was unparalleled, and it is hard to doubt that he ranks as the greatest scientific genius since Newton.
Andrew Robinson gives a splendid introduction to Einstein's theories, and the biographical chapters have been meticulously researched. There are short sections from writers such as Arthur C Clarke, the illustrations are excellent, and there is a good index. All in all, this is by far the best book about Einstein that I have ever come across.
Patrick Moore is the presenter of BBC TV’s The Sky at Night |
