A Truly Beautiful Mind

1.0About the Author

Albert Einstein (14 March 1879-18 April 1955) was a Germanborn theoretical physicist. Einstein is best known for developing the theory of relativity. He also made important contributions to the development of the theory of quantum mechanics. He gave the world famous mass-energy equivalence formula $\mathrm{E}={\mathrm{mc}}^2$, which arises from relativity theory. He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect. His intellectual achievements and originality resulted in "Einstein" becoming synonymous with 'genius'. Central Idea 'A Truly Beautiful Mind' is a chapter about Albert Einstein. In this chapter, Einstein is shown as a human being. He is presented as a fairly ordinary person. Here we learn about his likes and dislikes. We come to know his streaks of rebellion, and his problems. One can understand here well how this person was perceived before the world recognised him as a 'genius'. The chapter beautifully tells one how a person born without any special sign comes out as a great human being and a scientific genius. Here we come to see his other side that believes in humanity. Besides, he advocates world peace, and non-violence his entire life.

2.0Einstein's Childhood

Albert Einstein was born on 14th March 1879 in Ulm. His mother thought he was a freak as his head was too large. He didn't speak until the age of two-and-a-half. When he finally started speaking, he uttered everything twice. He did not play with other kids and preferred being by himself. His playmates called him "Brother Boring." He loved mechanical toys. He had a little sister called Maja. The headmaster at a school Einstein studied in, told his father, that no matter what career Einstein would choose, he'd never be successful. He played the violin since his mother wanted it and later became a gifted amateur violinist. He went to high school in Munich, where Einstein's family had moved when he was 15 months old, and scored good marks in almost every subject. Einstein hated the school's strict discipline, and often clashed with his teachers. At the age of 15, Einstein left the school for good. Albert's parents had moved to Milan, and left their son with relatives. Then he got to continue his education in Switzerland which was much more liberal than Munich. He was interested in Physics and was highly gifted in Mathematics. Then, he decided to study at a university in Zurich. Albert fell in love with Mileva Maric whom he thought was a 'clever creature'. At the age of 21, he was a university graduate but unemployed. He worked as a teaching assistant and gave private lessons. He secured a job in 1902, as a technical expert in Bern. He jokingly called his desk drawer at work the "bureau of theoretical physics."

3.0Marvellous Discoveries by Einstein

• In 1905, one of the famous papers was Einstein's Special theory of relativity, according to which time and distance are not absolute.
• He also derived the world's most famous formula that describes the relationship between mass and energy: $\mathrm{E}={\mathrm{mc}}^2$
• While Einstein was solving the most difficult problems in physics, his private life was getting puzzles. Einstein wanted to marry Mileva after finishing his studies but his mother did not approve of it as she thought Mileva was too old for him and was 'a book', just like he was. They finally got married in January 1903 and had two sons.
• Unfortunately, the marriage faltered and they got divorced in the year 1919 as Mileva was losing her intellectual ambition and becoming an unhappy housewife. Einstein married his cousin Elsa, the same year.
• In 1915, he had published his General Theory of Relativity. An eclipse of the sun in 1919, proved that it was accurate. He had correctly calculated the extent to which the light from fixed stars would be deflected through the sun's gravitational field, in advance. His work was considered a 'scientific revolution'.
• Einstein received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. He was showered with honours and invitations from all over the world, and commended by the press.
• Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, Einstein emigrated to the United States. Five years later, the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin took place.
• He wrote a letter to American President, on 2 August 1939, warning him about the happenings and the bombs the Nazis had planned to use. He stated, "A single bomb of this type ... exploded in a port, might very well destroy the whole port together with some of the surrounding territory." His words did not fail to have an effect.
• He wrote a public missive to the UN proposing the formation of a world government, but it made no impact and U.S.A dropped the bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
• Einstein started using his popularity to campaign for peace and democracy.
• He died in 1955 at the age of 76 . He was known and celebrated as a visionary and world citizen as much as a scientific genius.

4.0Recall

• Albert Einstein was born on 14th March 1879 in Ulm whom his mother thought was a freak as his head was too large.
• He didn't speak until the age of two-and-a-half. When he finally started speaking, he uttered everything twice.
• He loved mechanical toys and preferred being by himself. He had a little sister called Maja.
• The headmaster at a school Einstein studied in, told his father, that no matter what career Einstein would choose, he'd never be successful.
• He played the violin and later became a gifted amateur violinist. He went to high school in Munich and left the school at the age of 15 because of feeling stifled.
• His parents had moved to Milan and left him in Munich with relatives.
• He got to continue his education in Switzerland which was much more liberal than Munich.
• He was interested in Physics and was highly gifted in Mathematics. He studied at a university in Zurich.
• Albert fell in love with Mileva Maric whom he thought was a 'clever creature'.
• At the age of 21, he was a university graduate but unemployed. He worked as a teaching assistant and gave private lessons. He secured a job in 1902, as a technical expert in Bern.
• In 1905, one of the famous papers was Einstein's Special theory of relativity, according to which time and distance are not absolute.
• He also derived the world's most famous formula that describes the relationship between mass and energy: $\mathrm{E}={\mathrm{mc}}^2$
• Einstein wanted to marry Mileva after finishing his studies but his mother did not approve of it as she thought Mileva was too old for him and was 'a book', just like he was. They finally got married in January 1903 and had two sons.
• In 1915, he had published his General Theory of Relativity. An eclipse of the sun in 1919, proved that it was accurate. He had correctly calculated the extent to which the light from fixed stars would be deflected through the sun's gravitational field, in advance. His work was considered a 'scientific revolution.'
• He wrote a letter to American President, on 2 August 1939, warning him about the happenings and the bombs the Nazis had planned to use.
• He wrote a public missive to the UN proposing the formation of a world government, but it made no impact.
• He died in 1955 at the age of 76 . He was known and celebrated as a visionary and world citizen as much as a scientific genius.

Also Read