Ideas And Opinions,   ISBN:9780517884409

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This is a collection of notes by Albert Einstein. It was surprising to see him write / talk on broad ranging topics including politics, religion and economics. Though I found myself disagreeing with several of his opinions, his style is very rational and to-the-point. I enjoyed his descriptions of theories in physics - he hit the most important aspects of evolving theories without bogging down a layperson in a lot of details.

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This collection of letters, speeches at scientific conferences, speeches at memorials, articles etc etc provides his perspective on topics like education, religion, fascism, economic crisis, politics, the role of government, socialism, peace efforts etc and gives a glimpse towards his efforts in creating a better society. You can notice his genuine efforts - leveraging his fame and position in the society - to address the political issues of his time; this can be seen in his speech at the disarmament conference, his articles, his letter to Freud and, in some instance, indicates his desperation and frustration. I've read at other places that Einstein at times was a bit condescending towards some of his fellow physicists, but from what you see here he comes across as a man full of humility and humanity. In an interview for a Berlin magazine he talks about his popularity "It strikes me as unfair, and even in bad taste, to select a few of them for boundless admiration , attributing superhuman powers of mind and character to them. This has been my fate and the contrast between the popular estimate of my powers and achievements and the reality is simply grotesque". Overall my respect and admiration for this man has only increased after hearing his thoughts on a wide ranging set of topics.

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Captivating collection of Einstein's most brilliant ideas and opinions. He was quite the character. This book is a must-have.

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"Ideas & Opinions" is one of those books that makes you kinda laugh to yourself at reading some of the passages and hit yourself and think, "well, that makes sense!" It's an interesting look at the issues and thought processes which shaped the way Albert Einstein would live his life and lead his astonishing career. He tackles many difficult issues, including but certainly not limited to religion and war.

I don't always agree with his viewpoints on issues, especially war, but there is no denying that this man had the ability to think in a manner that is unlike others. He was a genius, and that's not a term to be used lightly. This man was a genius.

So, why would somebody want to read a collection of thoughts from Albert Einstein? Because it's plain interesting. Even if you disagree with the man, it sparks a thought--a reaction--from the reader. The passages discussed are short enough that it'd make for a great bathroom read (as opposed to Sports Illustrated or Cosmo), or curled up next to a fire this winter. It's a change of pace from most of the books I've read, but it was a breath of fresh air!

This is certainly not a "read it in a week" type of book, but you can read a few passages here and there just to recharge the batteries.

Customer Rating: 

This is a great book to read on Einstein. It is a selection of papers and speeches taken over his lifetime (notably the first half of the twentieth century), grouped by subject matter (pacifism, the Jews, etc.). His language certainly advances in later years. The last section deals with his scientific works, where one can also see progression. One also sees him as a man of his times, commenting on institutions such as the League of Nations and the UN. Highly recommended.