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Einstein

By: Walter Isaacson
Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
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Publisher's summary

How did Einstein's mind work? What made him a genius? Isaacson's biography shows how his scientific imagination sprang from the rebellious nature of his personality. His fascinating story is a testament to the connection between creativity and freedom.

Based on the newly released personal letters of Albert Einstein, Walter Isaacson explores how an imaginative, impertinent patent clerk, a struggling father in a difficult marriage who couldn't get a teaching job or a doctorate, became the mind reader of the creator of the cosmos, the locksmith of the mysteries of the atom and the universe. His success came from questioning conventional wisdom and marveling at mysteries that struck others as mundane. This led him to embrace a morality and politics based on respect for free minds, free spirits, and free individuals.

These traits are just as vital for this new century of globalization, in which our success will depend on our creativity, as they were for the beginning of the last century, when Einstein helped usher in the modern age.

It's all relative: listen to more about Albert Einstein.
©2007 Walter Isaacson. All rights reserved (P)2007 Simon and Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.
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Critic reviews

"[A] lucid account." (Publishers Weekly)
"Isaacson has admirably succeeded in weaving together the complex threads of Einstein's personal and scientific life to paint a superb portrait." (Arthur I. Miller, author of Einstein, Picasso)
"Isaacson has written a crisp, engaging, and refreshing biography, one that beautifully masters the historical literature and offers many new insights into Einstein's work and life." (Diana Kormos Buchwald, General Editor of the Collected Papers of Albert Einstein)

What listeners say about Einstein

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good overview and listen

Good overall review of Einstein’s life. Captured the main points of science, politics and personal life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent

I fully recommend the abridged version. The story is concise, yet it's highly cohesive and powerful.

The content of this book is evenly split between the science and personality of Einstein.

Awesome narration.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Not Bad

This book gets very technical sometimes which makes it hard to follow. I wanted to know more about Einstein as a person not his science.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

This is the abridged version!

This is the abridged version! It's only about 1/3 of the total book. Before you buy it... double check that you want abridged... and not unabridged!

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great biography of the Genius

Issacson has written a masterpiece of the Genius, who’s life teaches us humility, humbleness and being respectful to all of humanity.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Didn't know that.

A little dry but interesting information on a genius. Would reccomend.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Warts and all

This is a great book about Einstein's life and work. I thought the author explained his contributions very clearly. Neither did he sugar coat Einstein's personal life - definitely not a saint, I felt sorry for his wife.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Really appreciated having the option of listening to the abridged version of this 700 page book!

I believe I got the flavor and critical parts of this book about this legendary genius without reading the entire 700 page book. There were still plenty of scientific formulas and explanations included without fogging my mind over with details that I could not comprehend. Thank you Audible for making this edition available!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Wonderful Read About an Amazing Mind

This apparently abridged version is a wonderful and high speed read. However as always with abridged versions sometimes you feel you have missed some spice.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent

This bio is a must read for all fans of Einstein,
all interested in physics, science, history of science, and in Einstein's theories.
Although this is the abridged version (7 vs 21 hours) you don't feel there's much left out, so much detail is contained in this book.
It covers all aspects of Einstein's life, personal as well as scientific and describes to some detail the steps of thought Einstein was going thru to develop his theories.
It should be easily understood by the non-physicist and bring insights also to the "expert".
I truly enjoyed the read and maybe some time go for the unabridged one :)

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7 people found this helpful