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The New Quotable Einstein

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I was overjoyed when the first edition came out. Here in one small volume were many of Einstein's most famous lines. I was even happier when new expanded editions came out. I have used the book almost as an index to my collection of books about Einstein (and I have a dozen of them).

But I noticed one problem in the editing. In the first edition, in the chapter "On Religion, God, and Philosophy," Einstein is quoted as saying "I see only with deep regret that God punishes so many of his children for their numerous stupidities, for which only he can be held responsible; in my opinion, only his nonexistence could excuse him." In the "expanded" edition, the word "only" (the first one) was removed. Well, this changes the meaning a lot, given what we know about Einstein's denial of free will in man. With the word "only" removed, God's guilt is lightened, as though suggesting there are other culprits, but in so doing she also distorts Einstein's meaning. I was startled enough by this that I went to the science library at the University of Toronto, and double-checked Einstein's words in the multivolume "Collected Papers of Albert Einstein." The word "only" appears in both the German original ("nur") and the English translation. Over and over Eisntein denied that human beings have free will, and so objectively there is no one to blame for our crimes but God - if, as Einstein said, He even existed.

Initially I suspected the editor of deleting "only" deliberately - after all, the "censored" version appears in both the second and third editions. But I'm now satisfied that this was an honest editing error and I have been reassured that it will be corrected in the next edition.

On the whole, the quotes are quite reliable. And the sources are very wide, including not only Einstein's own collected papers but the Einstein Archive and other secondary writings (such as memoirs). There must be materials that may be new and interesting even to Einstein scholars.

In his foreword Freeman Dyson claims Einstein had a "darker side" - for example, with respect to his family. Well, I'm sorry, but Einstein never pretended he was a saint. He was in some ways only an ordinary human being with a very extraordinary brain. He was certainly no great father or husband. But Einstein never asked anyone to censor his biography for him, making him look better than he was. If he cheated his wife, he did so virtually openly. So I think Dyson's point is really pointless. Besides, the term "darker side" misleads people into thinking that Einstein must have done some evil deeds which he tried to keep away from view. Newton's deceitful conduct in the priority dispute certainly suggests a nasty side to his personality. Nothing of the kind was ever in Einstein's character or conduct. Einstein had a temper, and he could be grumpy, or sexist, or rude, or over-the-top in his words on occasion. And that's about as far as his "dark side" gets. So what? He never did anything remotely criminal or unethical or even deceitful, for those of us wondering what this "dark side" means. (Incidentally, Dyson's assertion that the Japanese show "exquisite taste" in admiring Einstein and Hawking defies common sense. It's not just the Japanese but the whole world over who have such "exquisite taste"; nor is it just Einstein and Hawking whom the Japanese admire. The Japanese admire all sorts of people, some of whom would not be considered terribly heroic by us. Dyson is a great mathematical physicist, but I'm familiar enough with Dyson's many writings to know this guy doesn't always say sensible things.) Returning to Dyson's foreword, his story about armed Israeli soldiers commandeering Einstein's files at Princeton, NJ on a dark and rainy Christmas night, possibly breaking American laws, while good enough for a cheap movie scene, sounds too fantastic to be believable. His implication is that Einstein's dirty laundry is now safely and deliberately hidden in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Unless you're a connoisseur of conspiracy theories, you can safely dismiss this notion. Unless the files are physically destroyed, archivists will dig them out sooner or later. There is no reason to believe that non-Israeli Einstein specialists are denied access to them. I can't say I'll never be surprised by new revelations, but I doubt any will be interesting enough by now because the most important of Einstein's deeds and words and beliefs are already well known. What's yet to be revealed is most likely not interesting enough. (If someone could somehow find a manuscript proving Mileva doing most of the original mathematical thinking in Special Relativity, that would be an example of interesting new revelations.)

This book is very good as a general introduction to Einstein the man and even to his physics to a limited extent. The quotes are well-chosen and cover a good range. On the other hand, I wouldn't call it an Einstein concordance. For one thing, it is too short to be any such thing. For another, only an expert about Einstein AND his physics - like Abraham Pais - is qualified to compile a "concordance." (It would help that this expert also knew Einstein personally, though this is perhaps not necessary.)

This book is thus not the real thing - but surely a handy enough substitute. Its merits still far outweigh its imperfections. Here in one handy volume you can find Einstein's views on wide range of subjects, from politics to women to pipesmoking to Germans and Jews and of course physics. Not all of us will agree with everything he said. But in my opinion, Einstein's insights in philosophy, the scientific method, and music are devastatingly penetrating. And this book gives a fair and representative sample of these. (For those of you who are really interested in Einstein's "darker side," look for his tough opinions on Germans. For me, Einstein's bitter views of Germans come closest to showing his so-called "darker" side. Close but not quite though. Given all those dumb things Germans did in his lifetime, who can blame him?)

Two indexes, one for subjects and another for key words, make this book particularly user-friendly.

Calaprice has done Einstein admirers like myself a fine service. And the timing of this edition is good. Not only is 2005 the 100th anniversary of Special Relativity (1905), but April 18, 2005 is also the 50th anniversary of Einstein's death.

I have long loved quotes and especially quotes from Einstein, becaues like many great men, he did not think solely in one area on science. He thought greatly about many things. that doesn't mean that he was a perfect man. Far from it. He had major problems with personal relationships, was lacking in parenting skills, was very often not a great husband. Yet he tried to his utmost to use his immense intelligence to the good of mankind. I think he found it easier to deal with humans on a group basis, rather than an individual one. That does not mean that he did not leave an immense area of thought from which we can learn and put into use in our own lives.

Calaprice does a great job of sorting through the many quotes that were attributed to Einstein, but were not actually his. HOw best to get your ideas into print than to state they were words from the premier physicist and statesman of his time. I've seen some I often wondered about and shall have to change the way my mind memorized these statements (they are still often quite good statements).

It does not surprise me to see how greatly, especially in areas such as religion that Einstein changed his views: especially in organized religion. But his basics remained the same. That man and woman can work in science and other fields to achieve greatness, and that greatness can be used for good or for evil. As with the discovery of fission of the atom, it is evident that we decide our own fate, and that that decision is made on an individual basis.

Sometimes, when I am overwhelmed with work, or just life in general, I like to go get this quote book and randomly read through Einstein's thinking process. I don't always agree with, but he always makes me think. I cannot think of a better book to get on this anniversery of his life and death.

Karen Sadler,
Science Education,
University of Pittsburgh,
Chemistry,
CCAC

I purchased this book on the information (via internet; that great wellspring of truth) that Einstein successfully ripped apart the arguments, that a certain professor under whom he had studied espoused, that there is no GOD. Einstein is an atheist!!! I was certainly shocked; as, I understood him to be a smart man. Scripture is correct: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." 1 Corinthians 1 19.

Great quotes from a great man! I pick it up and read it over and over again. There's always something in it that pertains to what's going on in our world, even if the quotes are decades gone by.

I completely enjoyed this book and savored every page! I have the ultimate respect for Dr. Einstein and his legacy, discoveres, wisdom and his humor! If you believe as i do that the professor was likely the most important man of the 20th century, and wish to delve more into his thought process about life, love, liberty, race, religion, patriotism and countries...you will love this book! I highly recommend the book!

The new edition five years after the previous one has added sufficient new quotes to make me buy it even though I had the 2000 edition. It only raises the question why the editors had not worked harder five years ago since most of the material appears to be accessible then. A new introduction would have increased the value of the book though. The older edition was a little more compact and easier to walk around with. One cannot imagine the depth of Einstein's philosophical musings until he reads this book. If he weren't a scientist he would have made a good philosopher or writer. He has a lovely sense of humour and wit. "I have firmly resolved to bite the dust, when my time comes, with a minimum of medical assistance, and up to then I will sin to my wicked heart's content."

Centainly not confined to accolades about Dr. Einstein's genius, but an entertaining insight into his sense of humor, his practical side, his views on education, of God, of war, and human nature, all salted with irreverent humor,critical analysis,and refreshing self-deprication. A multifarious man, Einestein's commentaries on life are surprising and colored. A great gift book.

A good companion book: Albert Einstein, Ideas and Opinions, 1982 Crown Publishing.