Einstein His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson's comprehensive biography, Einstein: His Life and Universe, covers his scientific discoveries and his personal life.  Recent access to a large volume of personal correspondence allows the reader to obtain a better understanding of the man in each of his environments.

The book works on many levels.  I obtained a better understanding Einstein's exploration of theoretical physics.   The span of research was very wide.  From his papers on Brownian movement he provided strong evidence for the existence of atoms.  His general theory of relativity predicted the gravitational alteration of space time resulting in the curving of beam of light.  World War I and bad weather prevented the first proof during a solar eclipse.  In 1919, a British Brazilian expedition attempted the second photographic proof during that solar eclipse.

The book covers Einstein's personal life, politics, rejection then acceptance of his Jewish heritage during the rise of antisemitism in Nazi Germany. It was interesting to see the evolution of his thoughts from being a strict pacifist to the knowledge that this strategy of unilateral disarmament does not work in the face of a totalitarian regimes such as Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

Walter Isaacson - 46 minutes