Alice Calaprice

These intimate, candid descriptions of the private life of Albert Einstein come from a series of interviews with Herta Waldow, a housekeeper who lived with Einstein and his wife and daughter from 1927 to 1933 at their residence in Berlin. After World War II, science historian Friedrich Herneck interviewed Ms. Waldow and published the conversations in the former East Germany. Unavailable in English till now, these five interviews offer fascinating glimpses into the great scientist's daily routines while he lived as a celebrated scientist in Weimar Germany. Einstein's well-known idiosyncrasies come to life in these conversations: his disheveled hair that was only poorly trimmed by his myopic wife, his love of classical music, his playing of the violin to help him think, his delight in sailing, his wide circle of friends and many social engagements, and his female companions besides his wife. Many celebrity acquaintances are also mentioned: from movie star Charlie Chaplin and conductor Erich Kleiber to writers Thomas and Heinrich Mann and fellow scientists Max Planck, Max Born, and Erwin Schrödinger. With a detailed introduction that puts these interviews in context, these colorful conversations create a vivid picture of Albert Einstein the man.

This is the single most complete guide to Albert Einstein's life and work for students, researchers, and browsers alike. Written by three leading Einstein scholars who draw on their combined wealth of expertise gained during their work on the Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, this authoritative and accessible reference features more than one hundred entries and is divided into three parts covering the personal, scientific, and public spheres of Einstein's life. An Einstein Encyclopedia contains entries on Einstein's birth and death, family and romantic relationships, honors and awards, educational institutions where he studied and worked, citizenships and immigration to America, hobbies and travels, plus the people he befriended and the history of his archives and the Einstein Papers Project. Entries on Einstein's scientific theories provide useful background and context, along with details about his assistants, collaborators, and rivals, as well as physics concepts related to his work. Coverage of Einstein's role in public life includes entries on his Jewish identity, humanitarian and civil rights involvements, political and educational philosophies, religion, and more. Commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the theory of general relativity, An Einstein Encyclopedia also includes a chronology of Einstein's life and appendixes that provide information for further reading and research, including an annotated list of a selection of Einstein's publications and a review of selected books about Einstein. * More than 100 entries cover the rich details of Einstein's personal, professional, and public life* Authoritative entries explain Einstein's family relationships, scientific achievements, political activities, religious views, and more* More than 40 illustrations include photos of Einstein and his circle plus archival materials* A chronology of Einstein's life, appendixes, and suggestions for further reading provide essential details for further research

Albert Einstein remains one of most famous scientists in world history. His image is instantly recognizable by even the most scientifically uninformed person—for many people, Einstein personifies genius. But who was Einstein really? What was he like as a person? What did his science actually mean? This fresh biography of Albert Einstein provides students and general readers a concise, accessible introduction to the life and science of this revolutionary man. Underneath his genius, Einstein was an ordinary person, with human frailties and weaknesses, but also with charm, modesty, a wry sense of humor, and idiosyncrasies. Readers will understand why he was named the Person of the Century by Time magazine. Albert Einstein: A Biography will cover the entire history of this brilliant physicist's life and career, including: his early education, during which he was an excellent student, contrary to what is commonly believed; Einstein's struggles to find an academic position, which led him to work as a clerk at the Swiss patent office during the same period he was formulating his most famous and revolutionary theories; his troubled marriages and family life; Einstein's rise to international fame, and his use of that fame to fight for world peace; and Einstein's major contributions to physics, explained in ways that can be understood by anyone who wishes a fuller understanding of his scientific theories. The book includes a bibliography of secondary works that are useful for further reading, and a timeline of important dates in the life of Einstein.