The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Einstein [Paperback]

Gary F. Moring (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 396 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 1st edition (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028631803
• ISBN-13: 978-0028631806
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,404,870 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In Simple and clear Language, October 27, 2001

By 

Ganapathy Subramaniam (Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Einstein (Paperback)

--
This book, written in simple language is not only a guide to understanding Einstein, but Physics in general. It takes you through a brief history of rational thinking beginning with the Greeks and all the way to Quantum ideas.

For someone who has not majored in Physics,(I am CS) this book is a real gift.

The book travels in time moving from one idea to the other gradually building the momentum to take us into the modern scientific understanding of Physics.

Some of the ideas and discoveries of Einstein are so wonderfully
explained,I especially loved the part when the authors describe how Einstein was overjoyed when he came up with a description of Gravity under Special Relativity.

After a long gap of several years, when I wanted to read something related to Science, I happened to pick up this book. It got me started again. So much so, that I have moved on to David Deutsh and Leon Lederman. Maybe someday I will even go back to college for a degree in Physics.

If you don't know much about Physics but want some thread to begin, this book definitely is one!

22 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Be Careful-- Know What You're Getting!, May 7, 2002

By 

Paul E. Tormey (Orrington, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Einstein (Paperback)

For years I've struggled with understanding relativity theory, and thought what I needed was something that would explain it to me in the simplest possible terms. What better than this book, I thought. This book does a lot more than explain Einstein's theories, which is a flaw, not a strength. It is about 10% explaining the theories, 50% history of the study of Physics and 40% non-scientific biography of Einstien. And yes, there is a liberal amount of the author's own politically correct editorializing, such as (pg 245) "many of the worst crimes are motivated by repressed sexual tendencies. Society needs to apply a bigger picture here, don't you think?" and (pg 270) "In the free market system, profitability often outweighs damage to human life". Einstien dies on Pg 291, but the book limps on for another 50 pages. If you want a history of physics IN GENERAL, you'll be more satisfied than if you're (like me) just trying to get your arms around Einstein's theories.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must have" for all physical science teachers!, March 17, 2002

By 

A. Pacheco (Bedford, KY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Einstein (Paperback)

This work is excellent, whether you are reading it as supplemental for high school or college or because of an actual interest in Einstein. As a high school chemistry and physics teacher, I was searching for a something to help me explain "special relativity". What I found was a book that would help me teach a wide array of topics, from Kepler and Newton's laws to electromagnetic energy.

There are three aspects of the book that I find most useful. First, being a "complete idiot's guide" means that it is written without being overly scientific. It allows the reader to understand these sometimes difficult topics without having a doctoral degree AND provides interest. Secondly, the integration of the history makes for a multidisciplinary approach similar to what I aim for in my teaching. If science and math are not your "true loves", then the historical and anecdotal notes will reach you. Thirdly, I especially think that the author's ultimately succeeds at his attempt to call for not just tolerance but understanding...whether it be for different theories or different cultures.

There is only one "bone" to pick. In the section on chemical bonding, the author fails to mention that Mendeleev's periodic table is not the one that we use today. Mendeleev organized his table based on increasing atomic mass, which is mentioned in the book. However, our table is based on increasing atomic number, thanks to Henry Moseley (who is not mentioned). This fact is often overlooked. Yet, as a chemistry major, I must fight for Moseley's right to be recognized for this vital contribution.

But one omission does not detract from the overall superiority of the book. This book is a "must have" for all physical science teachers!