Einstein: His Life and The Universe by Walter Isaacson

I admit, tackling the life and science of Albert Einstein is a gargantuan undertaking. Conveying the magnitude of Einstein’s scientific achievements is tough enough, but that’s just the start. His geopolitics, faith, cultural impact, philosophy of science, amorous affairs, powers of abstraction and superstar reputation are all part of this subject. While the science was hard for me to follow completely and a lot of the personal details were less than fully divulged, overall I would say this is a satisfactory biography, elevated in my rating based on the degree of difficulty in handing the subject matter. The book is heavy on the science, maybe 1/3 of the 700+ pages detail Einstein's life as a scientist and what he contributed to our understanding of how the universe works. If you are interested only in the personal side, I would suggest a different source. The fascinating thing for me was how much what he discovered came from him alone, and came about mostly through thinking it through rather than pouring over the math or grueling laboratory experiments. He was a force to be reckoned with, who was not 100% correct, but whose papers propelled his field forward almost at the speed of light. I wondered how a biographer could have such a knowledge of the science, and found that he leaned heavily on physicist Brian Greene in explicating the series of revelations Einstein brought forth in his wonder year, 1905, and the subsequent problems with quantum theory and uncertainty that would bedevil him. He was at the time working in the patent office in Switzerland, a job that provided him with enough income to live on and enough time to think. The personal aspects of Einstein's life are less interesting to me--he was a flirt, chronically unfaithful, twice married, and an inconstant parent. He was charming and unpredictable socially, at least as portrayed here. His political views shifted across his lifetime, and are also of little interest to me, but Isaacson does a good job of following them and Einstein shifted from a pacifist to a supporter of the war against Hitler and Nazis. Overall I would recommend this, although it takes some time and energy to get through.