Description: Free Creations of the Human Mind: The Worlds of Albert Einstein presents a concise and nuanced account of Einstein's life and work embedded in his intellectual and social contexts. His life is interconnected with so many of the important political and intellectual movements of his era - Zionism, pacifism, Nazism, nuclear weapons, philosophy, civil rights, McCarthyism, the League of Nations, and substantial discoveries in epochal theories of special relativity and quantum theory. His views on important political and intellectual movements of his era shaped the world he lived in while his persona acquired a formidable patina deposited by generations of apocryphal mythmaking, both during and after his lifetime.
Review Quotes: "Albert Einstein lived a life of soaring scientific creativity. He also witnessed, and responded to, some of the most searing developments of modern times: world wars, the rise of Nazism, and the nuclear age. This remarkable book traces how the efforts of Einstein's life hung together."-- David Kaiser, Germeshausen Professor of Physics and the History of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"Written in lucid, accessible prose and resting on deep knowledge of the man and his multiple engagements, Free Creations of the Human Mind convincingly challenges received wisdom concerning his scientific creativity and ideas about relativity and quantum theory. It discerningly probes the impact of antisemitism on his attitudes towards Israel and civil rights, of war and the atomic bomb on his pacifism and support for an open world order. A wholly enthralling and informative book." -- Daniel J. Kevles, Professor Emeritus of History, Yale University, and author of The Physicists: the History of A Scientific Community in Modern America"Someone might think there is nothing new to say about Einstein, but that is wrong. This short book is a treasure for both the Einstein beginner and the devoted scholar. The reader learns not only the basics of Einstein's scientific worlds, centered on quantum and relativity theories, but also the contours of his worlds as German, Jew, Zionist, American, internationalist, public citizen, and celebrity icon. Writing in a highly engaging manner, Buchwald and Gordin also convincingly show the relevance of Einstein's commitments for today's science and politics." -- Mary Jo Nye, Professor Emerita of History, Oregon State University"[This] brief, appealing book discusses the general theory of relativity and quantum theory, but is preoccupied mainly with Albert Einstein's life, personality and philosophy, especially his complex relationship with war - including the design of the atomic bomb - and pacifism." -- Andrew Robinson, Nature"Delightfully short, the sort of thing you could binge over a weekend for a dose of comfort and courage ... a brief yet intimate portrait that nevertheless captures the many facets of Einstein as a human being." -- Urmila Chadayammuri, Nature Astronomy"[A] marvellous and concise new biography ... it is books like Free Creations of the Human Mind ... that truly teach us about the intellectual foundations of the modern world." -- Dmitri Levitin, Literary Review"It's hard to believe that there could be anything more that could usefully be written about Einstein - and then this impressive little book comes along." -- Brian Clegg, Popular Science"Succinct and illuminating ... Free Creations of the Human Mind offers something different. The authors carefully pick apart Einstein's persona, respectfully and evidentially, and reassemble him in the context of his times. This lucid and insightful portrait of the great man is a welcome addition." -- Alastair Gunn, BBC Sky at Night Magazine"This small but impressive book packs a lot in for the 70th anniversary of Einstein's death. Judiciously assembled and written with the general reader in mind, we have a concise biography, addressing subjects such as Einstein's identity as a secular Jew who supported Zionism, to his complicated history with atomic energy and its development of the atomic bomb." -- NJ McGarrigle, The Irish Times"Buchwald and Gordin's Free Creations of the Human Mind: TheWorlds of Albert Einstein demonstrate that Einstein Studies is alive and well. New works for both the beginner and advanced readerare available and it is well worth reading." -- Steven Gimbel, Metascience"This is a remarkably accessible and engaging account of Einstein's commitments to science and to the fate of humanity by a man for all ages. Researchers will appreciate the detailed references in the notes section, as well as the thorough index." -- F. Potter, CHOICE"[A] good introduction to Einstein's life and mind." -- Ray Monk, London Review of Books