Einstein : The Passions of a Scientist

by PARKER, BARRY R.

• ISBN13: 9781591020639
• ISBN10: 1591020638
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-03-01
• Publisher: Prometheus Books

Summary

Einstein continues to captivate, not only for his revolutionary scientific insights but also for his complex personality and personal pursuits. In this unique contribution to the Einstein literature, physicist and acclaimed science writer Barry Parker draws on the great scientist's letters and personal papers to explore the intellectual and emotional passions that motivated both his work and his life. Parker focuses on five aspects of Einstein's emotional nature that had a profound influence on his life and career. This is an original, insightful look at one of the greatest geniuses of all time who did so much to shape our vision of the world.

Author Biography

Barry Parker served as a professor of physics at Idaho State University from 1967 to 1997.

Table of Contents

Preface	11	(2)
Introduction	13	(8)
An Early Passion for Learning and Music	21	(12)
Leaving Munich	33	(10)
The Surprise	36	(2)
Arrival in Milan	38	(2)
More Problems	40	(1)
The Essay	41	(2)
First Love	43	(14)
The Exams	44	(1)
To Aarau	45	(1)
The Winteler Family	46	(1)
First Love	47	(1)
The School	48	(2)
Continuing Love for Music	50	(1)
Christmas at the Wintelers and Beyond	51	(2)
Changing Relations with Marie	53	(1)
Continuing Passion for Physics	54	(1)
The Matura Exams	55	(1)
The Future	56	(1)
Student Days and a New Love	57	(18)
New Friends	58	(2)
Mileva	60	(2)
A Mathematical Attitude	62	(3)
``Herr Weber''	65	(2)
Mileva's Return	67	(1)
Passion for the Lab	68	(2)
Other Passions	70	(1)
Disappointments	71	(4)
The Women in His Life	75	(14)
A Passion for Knowledge	76	(2)
Off to Paradise	78	(2)
Julia Niggli	80	(2)
The Final Year	82	(1)
Other Women in His Life	83	(1)
Worries Become Panic for Mileva	84	(1)
The Final Exams	85	(2)
The ``Blowup''	87	(2)
Family Ties	89	(12)
Compassion for Family	91	(2)
Questionable Passion for Mileva	93	(3)
More Rejections	96	(1)
Determination in the Midst of Frustration	97	(1)
A Ray of Light	98	(2)
An Unpleasant Surprise	100	(1)
More Difficulties	101	(14)
Happiness and Dismay	102	(2)
Courage under Fire	104	(2)
A New Job	106	(3)
Visit to Kleiner	109	(1)
Old Friends	110	(1)
Lieserl	111	(4)
Gaining New Insights	115	(14)
Old Friends	116	(1)
A Visitor	116	(1)
Solovine	117	(4)
The Patent Office	121	(1)
The Olympic Academy	122	(4)
A Death in the Family	126	(3)
A Passion for Understanding Nature	129	(14)
Other Friends	131	(1)
Mileva's Visit Home	132	(1)
The Failed Collaboration	133	(2)
A Passion for Research	135	(3)
Mileva's Contribution	138	(2)
A Letter to Habicht	140	(3)
The Miracle Year: 1905	143	(14)
Another Thesis	146	(2)
Brownian Motion	148	(1)
Relativity	149	(5)
A Vacation	154	(1)
More Frustration	155	(2)
Extending the Theory	157	(18)
A Visitor	159	(1)
The Yearbook Article	160	(2)
A Letter from Kleiner	162	(2)
A Professorship at Last	164	(1)
The Fiasco	165	(1)
The Honorary Doctorate	166	(1)
The New Professor	167	(3)
To Prague	170	(5)
The General Theory	175	(20)
Professor at the Poly	177	(3)
Visitors from Berlin	180	(4)
Moving to Berlin	184	(1)
Separation	185	(2)
Path to the General Theory	187	(4)
Mileva's Breakdown	191	(4)
Confirmation and a Passion for Determinacy	195	(24)
The New Universe	196	(2)
Stomach Problems Continue	198	(2)
Another Divorce Attempt	200	(3)
The Ilse Affair	203	(2)
Eclipse and Fame	205	(3)
Another Death in the Family	208	(1)
Backlash	209	(3)
The Nobel Prize	212	(1)
Quantum Theory	213	(2)
Clinging to Determinism	215	(4)
An Obsession for Unity	219	(22)
Hans Gets Married	220	(2)
Health Problems	222	(1)
Unified Field Theory	223	(2)
Caputh	225	(1)
Woman Troubles	226	(2)
To America	228	(3)
An Offer He Couldn't Refuse	231	(2)
The Nazi Rise to Power	233	(2)
Last Visit with Eduard	235	(2)
Leaving Europe Forever	237	(1)
The Death of Ilse	238	(1)
More Deaths	239	(2)
A Desire for World Peace	241	(16)
A Call for Help	243	(3)
Prelude to the Atomic Bomb	246	(1)
Einstein Gets U.S. Citizenship and the United States Enters the War	247	(4)
Deteriorating Health	251	(1)
Mileva Dies	252	(2)
Maja Dies	254	(1)
The Formation of the State of Israel	254	(3)
Epilogue	257	(6)
Notes	263	(14)
Glossary	277	(6)
Bibliography	283	(8)
Index	291