Albert Einstein's universal appeal is only partially explained by his brilliant work in physics, as Andrew Robinson demonstrates in this authoritative, accessible, and richly illustrated biography. The main narrative is enriched by twelve essays by well-known scientists, scholars, and artists, including three Nobel Laureates. The book presents clearly the beautiful simplicity at the heart of Einstein's greatest discoveries, and explains how his ideas have continued to influence scientific developments such as lasers, the theory of the big bang, and "theories of everything." Einstein's life and activities outside of science are also considered, including his encounters with famous contemporaries such as Chaplin, Roosevelt, and Tagore, his love of music, and his troubled family life. The book recognizes that Einstein's striking originality was expressed in many ways, from his political and humanitarian campaigns against nuclear weapons, anti-Semitism, McCarthyism, and social injustices, to his unconventional personal appearance. Published in association with the Albert Einstein Archives at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the book draws on this exceptional resource of Einstein's private papers and personal photographs. This new edition, published to recognize the centenary of the publication of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, includes an important new afterword by Diana Kormos Buchwald, the director of the Einstein Papers Project at the California Institute of Technology. The contributors are Philip Anderson, Arthur C. Clarke, I. Bernard Cohen, Freeman Dyson, Philip Glass, Stephen Hawking, Max Jammer, Diana Kormos Buchwald, Joao Magueijo, Joseph Rotblat, Robert Schulmann, and Steven Weinberg.

Author Biography

Andrew Robinsonis the author of some 25 books, written for both general and academic readers, covering three main areas: science and the history of science; archaeology, scripts and decipherment; and the history and culture of India. From 1994-2006, he was literary editor of The Times Higher Education Supplement in London, and is currently a regular writer for newspapers, magazines and journals, including BBC Focus, The Lancet and Nature. A King's Scholar of Eton College, he holds degrees from Oxford University (in science) and the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, and has been a visiting fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge. Contributors: Philip Anderson, Arthur C. Clarke, I. Bernard Cohen, Freeman Dyson, Philip Glass, Stephen Hawking, Max Jammer, Diana Kormos Buchwald, Joao Magueijo, Joseph Rotblat, Robert Schulmann and Steven Weinberg.