Customer Reviews

DK Biography: Albert Einstein

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My 5th grade son read this for a book report. It was a very good introduction to Einstein's life and the social and political environment that surrounded him. As with other DK books, this one has many photos -- of Einstein, the places he lived or studied, and of other historical figures that were an influence on his life. The many illustrations tend to catch the reader's eye and thereby draw the reader into the narrative. The biography includes the difficulties of his childhood and his later personal life and paints a very human picture of what otherwise is an icon of science. My son was impressed that Einstein was an indifferent student who cut many of his classes and was considered by his teachers as a "lazy dog." Yet, he later succeeded in solving some of the greatest challenges in physics. In other words, a person's talents as an adult are not necessarily predicted by success (or lack thereof) in school.

There are appropriately simple explanations of Einstein's principal papers (which a non-scientist adult reader would find illuminating) and good anecdotes of the circumstances in which he got his ideas. Take, for example, this passage about his conception of the Equivalence Principle: " 'I was sitting on a chair in my patent office in Bern. Suddenly, a thought struck me: If a man falls freely he would not feel his weight. I was taken aback.' . . . This led him to conclude that gravity (the force of the earth's pull on all objects) and acceleration (the force of an object falling freely) are equivalent."

4th/5th graders might find the writing in the book a little advanced and adults will find this a fascinating quick read. A real bargain at $4.99.

This book is very interesting. It is all about Alberts life, from when he was born till when he died. This is a very advanced book. Every single moment of this book will have you hanging on the edge of your seat.
One thing that I thought was really cool in this book was how he helped on the atomic bomb for world war one and world war two. A reason why I think you should read this book because Albert Einstein was a very interesting man and he had a very interesting life. That is why I think you should read this book.

I just finished reading Albert Einstein, and I rushed over to post this review. This is an outstanding entry in a fine series. The author, Frieda Wishinsky, really makes you understand Albert Einstein both as a scientist and as a human being. Her clear yet thoughtful text lets readers explore the contradictions of a brilliant man--and still shows Einstein as a towering giant of the 20th century. Great book, highly recommended!

An engaging biography of 20th century icon Albert Einstein that examines the Nobel Prize winning scientist from many different angles: a lackadaisical student who loved to learn; a brilliant thinker whose ideas brought him fame but not necessarily understanding; a staunch pacifist in a era of war who felt compelled to sign a letter to President Roosevelt regarding the need for the U.S. to build the atomic bomb before the Germans; a secular Jew who became a spokesman for the Zionist cause. Wishinky's text is generally clear and thorough, blending the personal and professional into one linear whole. He is portrayed throughout as a man whose intellect dominated his life, at times to the detriment of those around him. Numerous quotes illuminate his relationships with a multitude of influences, from family friends and acquaintances to infamous scientists and statesmen, including Chaim Weitzmann, who invited Einstein to accompany him on a tour of the United States in 1921 in order to raise funds for the establishment of a Jewish state. An abundance of visual references, photographs, and supplemental sidebars compliment the narrative, providing an important historical context for the events in his life as well as his thinking. While Einstein's famous theories are explained in general terms, the explanations are difficult to understand, potentially leaving young readers as mystified as many of those who came to hear his lectures (for a more enlightening alternative, see Einstein: Visionary Scientist by John B. Severance). Still, this is a useful work, one suitable for both reports and general interest. Reviewed by Teri Markson

This book is very interesting. It is all about Alberts life, from when he was born till when he died. This is a very advanced book. Every single moment of this book will have you hanging on the edge of your seat.
One thing that I thought was really cool in this book was how he helped on the atomic bomb for world war one and world war two. A reason why I think you should read this book because Albert Einstein was a very interesting man and he had a very interesting life. That is why I think you should read this book.

We are trying to encourage our kids to read about important people to show the start out just like everyone else. They loved learning about Albert Einstein! To learn that he was just a normal guy that was super smart and used it to help people.