Einstein: A Centenary Volume

xx, 332 pp. "This is a total assessment of the life and works of one of the intellectual giants of our age. Compiled to commemorate the centenary of his birth, the book portrays the many facets of this extraordinary man. The main chapters, by internationally famous scientists such as Hermann Bondi, Gerald Holton, and Martin J. Klein, have been specially commissioned for the book. They describe Einstein's life, his major contributions to physics, his work for the cause of peace, and the wide-ranging effect of his ideas on the educational, cultural, and philosophical issues of the twentieth century. These are supplemented by personal reminiscences from people who knew Einstein, by short quotations of remarks made by and about him, and by a collection of longer extracts from his own writings. Together they provide a unique insight into the man, his contribution to knowledge, and his role as a humanitarian and world statesman. The text is interspersed with many photographs, line drawings, and facsimile reproductions. Most of the book is accessible to readers with little or no scientific background, but much will be of special interest to professional teachers and scientists."