Customer Reviews

The Expanded Quotable Einstein

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Once you pick up this book, you will be hard-pressed to put it down. I fully enjoyed reading this book of quotations of one of the most influential people in recent history. A wide selection of topics are covered including quotations about his colleagues. If you like Einstein, you will enjoy this.

If you're anything like me, you hate learning about a subject through a biased source. Be it the news, history, or a biography, when knowledge is passed on second hand, one is always left wondering what was lost in the translation, intentionally or otherwise.

This is why The Expanded Quotable Einstein is such a breath of fresh air; it allows one to learn about Einstein, his life, his thoughts, his character, in the purest way--through his own words. With over 400 pages of quotes, many of which are as poetically astute as you would expect from a top-notch professional writer, you can discover all there is to know, and draw your own conclusions, instead of being lead there on a leash by an author. Also, with factual information mixed in without the propaganda associated with a full-length biography, one can learn as many dates-names-places as one needs (unless you wish to write a complete fact-based synopsis of his life) and get to the heart of the matter: his spirit.

I feel that overall, this is the best way to present a historical figure, especially Einstein, whose thoughts and ideas need no embellishment, and for whom his own words serve as the best guide through his intricate mind.

One note: many people equate Einstein with E = MC^2, however do not be scared; this is a book of his quotes on everything, from politics to family to religion. No knowledge of mathematics or physics is required to enjoy the surprising insightful and well-rounded character that is Albert Einstein.

A very quick read and I read this book as fast as I could. It was hard to put down, as it was very enjoyable. There are quotes that I will use over and over again in my life, writing, and public speaking. You'll find yourself saying, Wow!, this is his best quote, only to be surprised again on the next page.

It showed the good and bad of Einstein (this was not a happily married man), and readers will probably get a better sense of the man than reading some sappy one-sided lovefest biography.

I absolutely love this book, and the myriad of areas Albert Einstein touches upon.
From deeply personal thoughts about himself, to humankind, science, music, life, war and peace, religion, God, and philosophy, Alice Calaprice did a fantastic job in collecting and compiling the moving and meaningful quotes in this book.
Here are three of my favorites:

On Pacifism: " No person has the right to call himself a Christian or Jew so long as he prepares to engage in systematic murder at the command of an authority, or allow himself to be used in any way in the service of war or the preparation for it."

On Success: "Try to become not a man of success, but try rather to become a man of value."

On His Family: (To Mileva, 10-3-1900 in a love letter) "I am so lucky to have found you - a creature who is my equal, and who is as strong and independent as I am."

Einstein's wisdom is timeless. Whether you want to just read his wisdom, or share it with others, this is one great compilation. Highly recommended!

Barbara Rose, Ph.D. author of Stop Being the String Along: A Relationship Guide to Being THE ONE and If God Was Like Man
Editor, inspire! magazine

There are all kinds of quotes from Einstein to all sorts of people in all sorts of situations including many that are meaningless to anyone other than the person that he spoke or wrote to. For example, here is a quote to the Lebach family: "Here in Pasadena it is like paradise....Always sunshine and fresh air, gardens with palm and pepper trees, and friendly people who smile at one and ask for autographs." Here is another quote, this one to Ernesta Marangoni "The happy months of my sojourn in Italy are my most beautiful memories."

There are many pearls in this book to be sure, but I feel that just because Einstein said it, it is not necessarily noteworthy.

Was looking for an Old Einstein Quote that I was sure I heard many years ago but could not attribute to him, until I found it in this book. The price was excellent, the shipping was fast and was at the very least, surprised to find so many more wonderful and forthcoming words from such an super human man.