Overview

A classic collection of correspondence between two Nobel Prize winners, The Born-Einstein Letters , is also highly topical: scientists continue to struggle with quantum physics, their role in wartime and the public's misunderstanding.

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9781349729111

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Reviews

'This fascinating correspondence between two of the great and subtle figures of 20th-century physics provides a wonderful insight into the ethos of a unique period in history, as well as into the thinking of these remarkable individuals.' - Professor Sir Roger Penrose, FRS 'Behind every icon lies a human being. Einstein, the man, emerges from this correspondence with Max Born as thoughtful, engaged and witty, charting the ebb and flow of fortune as he grapples with the scientific and social tumult of the early 20th century. A priceless resource for historians, and a fascinating read for scholars of all disciplines.' - Professor Paul Davies, author of How to Build a Time Machine 'These letters display an engaging intimacy, wit, erudition and humanity. They reveal two powerful minds tackling revolutionary ideas while confronted by unprecedented challenges of academic and public life, in an era of profound intellectual and political upheaval. They are vivid reflections of their time, but also timeless.' - Dr Philip Campbell, Nature 'Inspiring bedtime reading for the Year of Physics' - Professor Dennis Weaire FRS, Chair of History of Physics Division, European Physical Society 'These letters are a fascinating insight into the development of ideas in science between two of the great names in physics, put into historical and political context...for this new edition Diana Buchwald and Kip Thorne have added a preface that helps the modern reader understand some of the implications of what they are to come across...Great stuff!' - www.popularscience.co.uk '[the book] greatly benefits from an extensive preface by Buchwald and the physicist Kip Thorne...The new preface also contains valuable brief accounts of the way that physics, after the death of these two great minds, continued along lines they had pursued, showing in some detail how experimental and theoretical work in the past few decades has confirmed with great precision some of their daring speculations.' - Professor Gerald Holton, Nature 'An immensely readable personal account of the intense struggles between Einstein and other physicists. They provide even more depth to ongoing efforts to determine what 'The Old One' - as Einstein referred to his understanding of God - had intended for our universe.' - David Bodanis author of E=mc2 in Washington Post 'With a well-informed introductory essay by Buchwald and Thorne, the correspondence is a delight, enabling us to trace the development of the intriguing friendship between the two physicists and to read their views on the great themes of physics and politics of their time.' - Times Higher Educational Supplement 'They were great friends, and their correspondence addresses many different subjects, from the minutiae of daily life to Beethoven's music; from quantum physics to the Russian Revolution; from the moral responsibilities of the scientist to the Nazi persecution of the Jews.' - London Review of Books

'This fascinating correspondence between two of the great and subtle figures of 20th-century physics provides a wonderful insight into the ethos of a unique period in history, as well as into the thinking of these remarkable individuals.' - Professor Sir Roger Penrose, FRS 'Behind every icon lies a human being. Einstein, the man, emerges from this correspondence with Max Born as thoughtful, engaged and witty, charting the ebb and flow of fortune as he grapples with the scientific and social tumult of the early 20th century. A priceless resource for historians, and a fascinating read for scholars of all disciplines.' - Professor Paul Davies, author of How to Build a Time Machine 'These letters display an engaging intimacy, wit, erudition and humanity. They reveal two powerful minds tackling revolutionary ideas while confronted by unprecedented challenges of academic and public life, in an era of profound intellectual and political upheaval. They are vivid reflections of their time, but also timeless.' - Dr Philip Campbell, Nature 'Inspiring bedtime reading for the Year of Physics' - Professor Dennis Weaire FRS, Chair of History of Physics Division, European Physical Society 'These letters are a fascinating insight into the development of ideas in science between two of the great names in physics, put into historical and political context...for this new edition Diana Buchwald and Kip Thorne have added a preface that helps the modern reader understand some of the implications of what they are to come across...Great stuff!' - www.popularscience.co.uk '[the book] greatly benefits from an extensive preface by Buchwald and the physicist Kip Thorne...The new preface also contains valuable brief accounts of the way that physics, after the death of these two great minds, continued along lines they had pursued, showing in some detail how experimental and theoretical work in the past few decades has confirmed with great precision some of their daring speculations.' - Professor Gerald Holton, Nature 'An immensely readable personal account of the intense struggles between Einstein and other physicists. They provide even more depth to ongoing efforts to determine what 'The Old One' - as Einstein referred to his understanding of God - had intended for our universe.' - David Bodanis author of E=mc2 in Washington Post 'With a well-informed introductory essay by Buchwald and Thorne, the correspondence is a delight, enabling us to trace the development of the intriguing friendship between the two physicists and to read their views on the great themes of physics and politics of their time.' - Times Higher Educational Supplement 'They were great friends, and their correspondence addresses many different subjects, from the minutiae of daily life to Beethoven's music; from quantum physics to the Russian Revolution; from the moral responsibilities of the scientist to the Nazi persecution of the Jews.' - London Review of Books

Author Information

Diana Buchwald Associate Professor of History, California Institute of Technology, USA Werner Heisenberg Betrand Russell Kip Thorne Professor of Theoretical Physics, California Institute of Technology, USA

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