Table of contents for Einstein's Universe in Einstein's Universe

You could say Albert Einstein was our first pop-star scientist. Early in the 20th century, his two theories of relativity, which proved our perception of the world was far from reality, kicked off his catapult to fame. When a photograph of the 1919 solar eclipse proved that light could bend, as Einstein predicted, that fame only grew. Few in the general public understood his scientific ideas, but they knew they were witnessing brilliance at work. “Einstein’s Universe” brings to life Einstein’s thoughts — not only on science and his times, but also on creativity, children, religion and music. Dozens of quotes from his writings and speeches, paired with images, capture his early life in the late 1870s in Germany, through his time in Zurich and Berlin, to his final 20…

“One must divide one’s time between politics and equations. But our equations are much more important to me, because politics is for the present, while our ‘equations are for eternity.” “In Hitler we have a man with limited intellectual abilities, unfit for any useful work, bursting with envy and bitterness against all of those whom circumstance and nature had favored over him.… He picked up human flotsam on the street and in the taverns and organized them around himself. That’s how he became a politician.”From an unpublished manuscript, 1935 “When people live in a time of maladjustment, when there is tension and disequilibrium, they become unbalanced themselves and then may follow an unbalanced leader.”From a conversation recorded by Algernon Black, fall 1940 “The Germans as an entire people are responsible…

“I am also looking forward to working on our new studies. You must continue with your research — how proud I will be to have a little Ph.D. for a sweetheart while I remain a totally ordinary person!”To Mileva Maric, Sept. 13, 1900 “How was I ever able to live alone, my little everything? Without you I have no self-confidence, no passion for work, and no enjoyment in life — in short, without you, my life is a void.”To Mileva, Aug. 14, 1900 “I don’t want to lose the children, and I don’t want them to lose me.… After everything that has happened, a friendly relationship with you is out of the question. We shall have a considerate and businesslike relationship. All personal things must be kept to a minimum.……

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.… I get most joy in life out of my violin.”From an interview with G.S. Viereck, Saturday Evening Post, Oct. 26, 1929 “This is what I have to say about Bach’s life and work: listen, play, love, revere — and keep your mouth shut.”Reply to a questionnaire on Bach, and possibly commentary on music critics, 1928 “He often told me that one of the most important things in his life was music. Whenever he felt he had come to the end of the road or into a difficult situation in his work, he would take refuge in music and that…

“I was sitting in the patent office in Bern when all of a sudden a thought occurred to me: If a person falls freely, he won’t feel his own weight. I was startled. This simple thought made a deep impression on me. It impelled me toward a theory of gravitation.”From a lecture in Kyoto, Japan, Dec. 14, 1922 “[Planck] was one of the finest people I have ever known… but he really did not understand physics, [because] during the eclipse of 1919 he stayed up all night to see if it would confirm the bending of light by the gravitational field. If he had really understood the general theory of relativity, he would have gone to bed the way I did.”Einstein speaking about renowned physicist Max Planck “Quantum mechanics is…

Peconic, Long Island, August 2nd, 1939 Sir: Some recent work by F. Fermi and L. Szilard, which has been communicated to me in manuscript, leads me to expect that the element uranium may be turned into a new and important source of energy in the immediate future. Certain aspects of the situation which has arisen seem to call for watchfulness and, if necessary, quick action on the part of the Administration. I believe therefore that it is my duty to bring to your attention the following facts and recommendations: In the course of the last four months it has been made probable — through the work of Joliot in France as well as Fermi and Szilard in America — that it may become possible to set up a nuclear chain…