First of all, I’m intrigued that I had even considered buying a biography, no matter that it’s about one of science’s greatest minds. The fact that it is written by Walter Isaacson the famed biographer and the book itself was BookXcess’ Book of the Month (which meant at the time of purchase it was heavily discounted) sealed the deal.
I’m puzzled why I’d bought the book even to this day. Surely, I couldn’t be that interested about someone else’s life. Nonetheless, I’ve started reading the overwhelmingly thick book weeks ago. According to Goodreads, I’m at 24%. That means I’ve got three quarters ways to go.
I’m surprised that throughout the book so far I rarely found it boring at all (except when the author was explaining the science). In fact, I’m amazed with how Einstein survived and triumphed despite his brashness and lack of people skills. I couldn’t help to wonder how he’d do in present times where paper correspondences were replaced unashamedly by social media.
The biography also read out to become more of a novel than a boring reconstitution of Einstein’s life. There’re love stories and, interestingly, love affair, too. I did not think Einstein would have much of a love life but in fact he was a handsome theoretical physicist with substantial encounters with love. It was also pleasant to know that in his life of science, Einstein did not fully renounce religion. There is still a place for the almighty.
I’m at the point where Einstein was at the verge of a breakthrough in coming up with the special theory of relativity. Note that this was a prerequisite to his famous general theory of relativity which wouldn’t emerge until years later. This came after a struggling early adult life where he was unemployed for the most part and then ended up in the patent office. His unsuccessful early life was in large caused by his arrogance.
That’s all for now. Back to the book among other things.
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