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A review by eely225
Einstein's Greatest Mistake: A Biography by David Bodanis
4.0
I checked out this volume primarily because I knew that Albert Einstein was the guy in the posters who wrote an equation (relativity was involved? the words "special" and "general" might make an appearance?) and had something to do with the nuclear bomb but then said that quote about the fourth world war being stick-centric. Right, so I didn't know very much.
In that sense, the book succeeded. This is not a truly in-depth biography; his (apparently minimal) involvement with the development in the nuclear bomb isn't even mentioned. So as someone looking simply for the broad brush strokes of a historically meaningful life, this is a good choice.
Bodanis focuses not on every detail, choosing to center his book on a single question: why did Einstein become scientifically irrelevant by the 1930's? The narrowed focus is helpful, giving an orientation to the bulk of the book, which largely serves as buildup to that period. In getting there, the author makes an admirable effort at explaining Einstein's core innovations, as well as the unique nature of his fame.
The book is far from the last word on Einstein's life, but it is a good introduction and answers the few questions it asks well.
In that sense, the book succeeded. This is not a truly in-depth biography; his (apparently minimal) involvement with the development in the nuclear bomb isn't even mentioned. So as someone looking simply for the broad brush strokes of a historically meaningful life, this is a good choice.
Bodanis focuses not on every detail, choosing to center his book on a single question: why did Einstein become scientifically irrelevant by the 1930's? The narrowed focus is helpful, giving an orientation to the bulk of the book, which largely serves as buildup to that period. In getting there, the author makes an admirable effort at explaining Einstein's core innovations, as well as the unique nature of his fame.
The book is far from the last word on Einstein's life, but it is a good introduction and answers the few questions it asks well.