Einstein A to Z (Paperback)

by Karen C. Fox (Author), Aries Keck (Author) "Whether a love of science automatically results in an inability to keep track of day-to-day details, anyone immersed in thought does learn to block distractions..." (more)
Key Phrases: relativity equations, miracle year, idea that light, United States, Nobel Prize, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
A is for absentmindedness, and yes, the greatest scientist of the 20th century was a stereotypically absentminded professor. E is for his famous equation on the relation between energy and mass, which is nicely explained here in a clear, comprehensible way. M is for McCarthyism, which Einstein openly decried, and also for Marilyn Monroe, whose link to Einstein is wholly fictional. Fox (The Big Bang Theory) and Keck, a science reporter for public radio station WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, say their alphabetic omnium gatherum "is designed to be as casual or as specific as the reader wishes," and that's a fair description. Details about Einstein's life, not just his science, are found in these alphabetical fragments, which cover the physicist's feelings on Israel and Judaism, on pacifism (which he espoused) and on quantum mechanics (which he famously rejected), as well as his relations with other scientists and with his own family. Novice students of physics and casual browsers can learn a fair amount from these entries, though, of course, it's no substitute for reading one of the many comprehensive books on Einstein's life and work.
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From Scientific American
Every Einstein book talks about relativity, but not many tell you about the mortician who ran away with his brain. From absentmindedness to Zionism, Fox and Keck offer sharp, bite-size pieces of Einstein-related people, concepts and quirks in a fun book ideal for trivia lovers and the science-wary.

Editors of Scientific American

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (July 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471466743
• ISBN-13: 978-0471466741
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,448,868 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, Accessible- Great Teaching/Research Guide, July 25, 2004

By	K. Zacarias - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A wonderful easy-to-read book on all the chapters on Einstein's life. Succinct, complete, and understandable descriptions of his theories as well as interesting analysis of his personal life. The book is arranged so one can quickly find the topic and read the short essays. FANTASTIC for research... the topics can be read out of order. Enlightening and amusing (this is not a dry text book) , I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn (in a quick, entertaining, and organized fashion) more about the science, myths, truths of Einstein's work and life.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I guess I AM the right audience. . . , July 30, 2004

By	Jen (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

I picked this up and was amazed when it was 3 hours later and I'd let everything else I was supposed to do in the afternoon slip by me. I'm NOT a scientist, so perhaps it's not aimed at people who already know a lot about Einstein, but it was just the perfect level for me. I liked the stories about his life interwoven with information about his theories. The format of the book -- it's made of lots of entries on subjects from his relationships with women to his work on the atom bomb -- really worked for me, and I'd love to see other biographies organized like this!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible information for the non-scientist, July 28, 2004

By	C. Cooke (Delaware) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a great first-stop for students researching Einstein's life and works as well as those who want to gain some insight on Einstein but don't want to read a textbook. The book's easy-to-read sections teach you enough on that particular topic to feel satisfied by what you've learned or confident enough to take your research further with a more in-depth source. I really like books that can draw me into science by showing the human side of a scientist; for me, it makes complicated theories that much more accessible. I would even recommend this book to a book club. Whether you read it in its entirety or read just the sections of particular interest to you, the book could really open up a great discussion about one of the world's biggest science icons.