From the best-selling author of E=mc2, a brisk, accessible biography of Albert Einstein that reveals the genius and hubris of the titan of modern physics.

Widely considered the greatest genius of all time, Albert Einstein revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos with his general theory of relativity and helped to lead us into the atomic age. Yet in the final decades of his life, he was also ignored by most working scientists, his ideas opposed by even his closest friends.

As renowned writer David Bodanis explains in Einstein's Greatest Mistake, this stunning downfall can be traced to Einstein's earliest successes and to personal qualities that were at first his best assets. Einstein's imagination and self-confidence served him well as he sought to reveal the universe's structure, but when it came to newer revelations in the field of quantum mechanics, these same traits undermined his quest for the ultimate truth. Bodanis traces the arc of Einstein's intellectual development across his professional and personal lives, showing how Einstein's conviction in his own powers of intuition proved to be both his greatest strength and his ultimate undoing.

An intimate and enlightening biography of the celebrated physicist, Einstein's Greatest Mistake reveals how much we owe Einstein today - and how much more he might have achieved if not for his all-too-human flaws.

Listening Length

8 hours and 18 minutes
Author

David Bodanis
Narrator

James Adams
Audible release date

October 18, 2016
Language

English
Publisher

Audible Studios
ASIN

B01IW9K1R2
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	8 hours and 18 minutes
Author	David Bodanis
Narrator	James Adams
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	October 18, 2016
Publisher	Audible Studios
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B01IW9K1R2
Best Sellers Rank	#201,296 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #371 in History of Science (Audible Books & Originals) #510 in Relativity Physics (Books) #525 in Biographies of Science & Technology Leaders

Customer reviews

5 star		64%
4 star		18%
3 star		5%
2 star		9%
1 star		3%

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Lucy Barr

get to know the brilliant mind and well-intended heart of Albert Einstein, and learn from his mistake

Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2016

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I thought this book was delightful. It's peppered with fascinating, and at times provocative, anecdotes about the far-from-perfect man Albert Einstein was, behind the genius we know. This biography reads like a great narrative and is surprisingly suspenseful as it builds toward the critical mistake that is referenced in the title. There's been so much published on Einstein throughout the years, but David Bodanis keeps Einstein fresh.This book is required reading for anyone interested in getting to know the brilliant mind and well-intended heart of Albert Einstein. Ultimately he isn't very different from you and me...except for his monumental discoveries that changed the world, which Bodanis excels in making appealing to science-lovers and non science-lovers alike. Read it!

17 people found this helpful

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Ronald R. Sercely

The author never even mentions the physical phenomena that Einstein won his Nobel Prize for!

Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2020

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There were many interesting details. I am a physicist by training, and the stories and people were interesting. But - Einstein won his Nobel prize for explaining the Photo-Electric effect, which was published in 1905. The author says, "In a flurry of activity in the spring of 1905, his deadlock broke, and Einstein began to write a series of five papers...."

He then describes 4 of the papers, very vaguely, relative to mass and energy, and never the photo-electric effect. IMHO - this make the book a very poor read.

3 people found this helpful

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Greek Geek

One of my favorite books now.

Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2022

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I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I picked this book up at a remote bookstore. What a surprise! A wonderfully written book about Einstein's personal and professional life. Highly recommended. I read it though in 3 days. Highly recommended.

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wonderful book, fun read

Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2019

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A well told story - thoughtful and informative

One person found this helpful

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Janneke Twombly

Very interesting and easy reading since the author managed to explain difficult concepts ...

Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2017

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Very interesting and easy reading since the author managed to explain difficult concepts in a manner easily understood by laymen (and women).

2 people found this helpful

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Ted Frederick

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2018

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Well done

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

A must read.

Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2017

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Best biography on Einstein I have read. Makes complex theories accessible; provides a human context in which to understand this exceptional mind.

5 people found this helpful

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Monica Wright

Fascinating

Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2020

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Great reading. Interesting subject.

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Top reviews from other countries

DAS

Excellent Book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2017

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Excellent book - fascinating and very well written. As someone with a minimal to zero grasp of science, let alone E=MC2, this made me feel that i finally get it. Loved reading about Einstein the man also.

john hudson

He admitted his biggest blunder - now Bodanis reveals the great man's greatest mistake!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2018

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I enjoyed this - well written and full of info. Ithought I already knew what Einstein's greatest blunder was, but it turns out I was wrong! Well argued case for a somewhat different slant on the great man's life. Will join the many others on my shelves.

Mr. Vincent R. While

Fascinating insight!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 1, 2017

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Being a physicist ....this was a fascinating insight into his life!

Harold B. Pregler

Avoids the pitfalls of trying to explain mathematics to the layman

Reviewed in Canada on May 6, 2019

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This is a difficult topic for one who is not a mathematician/theoretical physicist - the author obviously knows and understands the underlying mathematics, but avoids trying to explain it in any detail to the lay reader. I found the explanations understandable and interesting - glad I chose to order it.

2 people found this helpful

saurabh

Most wonderful book

Reviewed in India on September 24, 2020

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David Bodanis has a knack for getting into those details that matter most and explaining them in such a way that it makes it intuitive to visualize and comprehend.
A genius writer for the genius Einstien.

One person found this helpful

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