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Einstein: His Space and Times
Einstein: His Space and Times
By Steven Gimbel
Published April 28, 2015
208 pages
“Incisive” —The Times of London
A revealing new portrait of Albert Einstein, the world’s first scientific “superstar”
The commonly held view of Albert Einstein is of an eccentric genius for whom the pursuit of science was everything. But in actuality, the brilliant innovator whose Theory of Relativity forever reshaped our understanding of time was a man of his times, always politically engaged and driven by strong moral principles. An avowed pacifist, Einstein’s mistrust of authority and outspoken social and scientific views earned him death threats from Nazi sympathizers in the years preceding World War II. To him, science provided not only a means for understanding the behavior of the universe, but a foundation for considering the deeper questions of life and a way for the worldwide Jewish community to gain confidence and pride in itself.
Steven Gimbel’s biography presents Einstein in the context of the world he lived in, offering a fascinating portrait of a remarkable individual who remained actively engaged in international affairs throughout his life. This revealing work not only explains Einstein’s theories in understandable terms, it demonstrates how they directly emerged from the realities of his times and helped create the world we live in today.
About the Author
Steven Gimbel is the Edwin T. and Cynthia Shearer Johnson Chair for Distinguished Teaching in the Humanities as well as chair of the philosophy department at Gettysburg College. He lives in Mount Airy, MD.
Reviews
“Accurate and well balanced. [This book] presents Einstein’s Jewish heritage as he saw it himself.” —New York Review of Books
“With graceful lucidity, Gimbel illuminates the intensely personal challenges facing the great physicist.” —Booklist, Starred Review
“A reliable and unusual introduction, especially for readers who are not scientists” —Jewish Renaissance
“A pleasant, informative, and well-paced description of what Einstein accomplished as a scientist” —Donald Goldsmith, author of Einstein’s Greatest Blunder?
