It’s been so long since I read a book that gave me complete satisfaction. The wait is finally over and the book in question is “Einsten & Newton” written Dr. Aaron B. Lerner. It is a sheer surprise to me that the author Dr. Lerner was a physician at Yale University who also has a PhD in Chemistry. Despite his biology and chemistry background, Dr. Lerner seems to know how to analyze the life of two great Physicists of all time. When I was a lad growing up in India, any time when we try to outsmart the elders we were satirically called Einsteins and Newtons. Not that we deserve that accolade, it’s just that both Einstein and Newton are house-hold names used by people who has nothing to do with science and math.
The book begins with a concise introduction about the birth and early lives of both the scientists and goes on telling how unusual college students these two guys were! It is of no surprise to know that these boys behaved like Graduate students when they started their undergraduate degree. In fact, when Newton was in college, he developed binomial theorem, idea for calculus and initiated observations on refraction of light. Einstein was no stranger for self-learning either. He developed unique way to solving problems, read the book ‘Critic of Pure Reason’ at the very early age, and started questioning the foundation of physics.
You would not believe, but Newton’s mother was hard-pressed in order to get her permission so Newton can go to College. When he was working on acceleration, he created advanced calculus so he can continue his research. When he saw the apple fell on the ground, he questioned himself whether the effect of earth on apple is the same as that by the apple on earth, with the difference in force related to the differences in masses of two objects. This eventually led to the concept of acceleration due to gravity.
Einstein was never behind when we speak about original research. While he was working in a Swiss patent office and maintaining his family, he created extra time so he could perform his “independent” research using just pen and paper. It is astonishing to read that the foundation for his Nobel prize was laid in 1905 when he published the photoelectric effect without help from anyone. Not just that, the equation E=mc**2, a formula for Brownian motion, relativity theory were all published in 1905 alongside his PhD thesis!
On the personal side, while Newton happens to be the “Shy Guy”, Einstein socialized with people with rainbow of intellects! Newton was stuck in his room for most time where he forced himself to get mandatory sleep every night, whereas Einstein enjoyed his life doing outdoors sailing and, playing violin and piano. Newton’s engagement broke off due to the differences with his fiancée and lived as a Bachelor and a celibate, while Einstein was married at least twice. However, both the men were in their pink of the health during most part of their life because they believed sound body is a major requirement to perform sound research. Newton contributed to the public by serving as a member of parliament, whereas Einstein played a pivotal role in getting the American President Franklin D. Roosevelt's signature for the “Manhattan Project” that involved making atomic bombs that were later dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki! Both of them were religious, albeit to a different extent. Even though there was no Nobel Prize during Newton’s period, he certainly deserved at least two or more!
On a closing note, whereas Newton was respectable primarily among the scholars, Einstein was a household name not just for his contribution to physics, but also for world peace! I truly enjoyed reading this book and finished it almost within 24 hours (Thanks to Hurricane Irene wherein I was forced to stay home). I strongly recommend this book to anyone who have even a modicum of enthusiasm to learn about the legends, and a must for “All PhD students” who feel they are somewhat lost in their PhD marathon. Please read this book (http://www.amazon.com/Einstein-Newton-Comparison-Greatest-Scientists/dp/0822507528)
Some Excerpts from the book:
Newton
- Newton was born prematurely. His mother thought he would die soon after his birth
- Newton had all his teeth but one, and a full head of hair when he died! (Every man’s dream)
- Newton did not like to involve in activities that involve competition, nor did he study hard to improve grades. He however won a broad-jump contest by shrewdly waiting for a gust of wind to provide a driving force.
- Whenever Newton needed relaxation, he simply switched from mathematics to physics to chemistry to theology.
- Newton slept nude
- Newton is rarely funny!
- Newton usually keeps things to himself. Most of his discoveries that were made public is as a result of compulsion by others
- Newton’s only exercise was walking back and forth in his room
- Unlike Einstein, Newton did not produce any student, but merely helped created talented young mathematicians
- Newton was a bachelor throughout his life and a celibate
- Newton did not accept criticisms very well
- The first text book on theoretical physics was written by Newton
- At 26, the Cambridge university gave Professorship to Newton and let him do what he wants
- Once Newton was taking care of his livestock (horses) there was a storm. Excited Newton focused on calculating the speed of the wind and forget about the horses
- Newton invented differential calculus because it was required for him to continue his research about acceleration
Einstein
• Einstein is the only Nobel Laureate in physics who was awarded for his work done at his spare time, at home, entirely on his own, without being affiliated to any university
• Jewish Einstein never felt shy about supporting fellows Jews or expressing his Jewish feelings very strongly
• In 1944, Einstein handwrote a copy of his 1905 paper on special relativity (30-pages) and raised $6 million in order to contribute to the war efforts
• Einstein was straight forward. He never associated himself with Germany even after the world wars due to the mass murder committed by Hitler and his men.
• At the age of 73, Einstein was offered the “President” position of Israel. He however declined citing that he lacked natural aptitude and the experience to deal with people.
• Einstein in his last stages of life at the hospital jokingly said: “One can die without the help of Doctors”
• Einstein did not carry out any experiments
• Einstein’s got his green card in 1933 and citizenship in 1940
• Einstein was a professionally trained violinist and taught himself piano. He gave several concerts to generate funds for the needy
• Einstein considered Mahatma Gandhi and Franklin Roosevelt as the greatest contemporary statesmen
• Analysis of debris from atom bomb test of Oct 1952 shows the presence of an element whose atomic number was 99. Thereafter it was named “Einsteinium”
• In 1914, on a Solar eclipse day, a group of German astronomers went to Russia to test Einstein’s theory of gravity. The world war I broke out and these scientists were arrested
The book begins with a concise introduction about the birth and early lives of both the scientists and goes on telling how unusual college students these two guys were! It is of no surprise to know that these boys behaved like Graduate students when they started their undergraduate degree. In fact, when Newton was in college, he developed binomial theorem, idea for calculus and initiated observations on refraction of light. Einstein was no stranger for self-learning either. He developed unique way to solving problems, read the book ‘Critic of Pure Reason’ at the very early age, and started questioning the foundation of physics.
You would not believe, but Newton’s mother was hard-pressed in order to get her permission so Newton can go to College. When he was working on acceleration, he created advanced calculus so he can continue his research. When he saw the apple fell on the ground, he questioned himself whether the effect of earth on apple is the same as that by the apple on earth, with the difference in force related to the differences in masses of two objects. This eventually led to the concept of acceleration due to gravity.
Einstein was never behind when we speak about original research. While he was working in a Swiss patent office and maintaining his family, he created extra time so he could perform his “independent” research using just pen and paper. It is astonishing to read that the foundation for his Nobel prize was laid in 1905 when he published the photoelectric effect without help from anyone. Not just that, the equation E=mc**2, a formula for Brownian motion, relativity theory were all published in 1905 alongside his PhD thesis!
On the personal side, while Newton happens to be the “Shy Guy”, Einstein socialized with people with rainbow of intellects! Newton was stuck in his room for most time where he forced himself to get mandatory sleep every night, whereas Einstein enjoyed his life doing outdoors sailing and, playing violin and piano. Newton’s engagement broke off due to the differences with his fiancée and lived as a Bachelor and a celibate, while Einstein was married at least twice. However, both the men were in their pink of the health during most part of their life because they believed sound body is a major requirement to perform sound research. Newton contributed to the public by serving as a member of parliament, whereas Einstein played a pivotal role in getting the American President Franklin D. Roosevelt's signature for the “Manhattan Project” that involved making atomic bombs that were later dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki! Both of them were religious, albeit to a different extent. Even though there was no Nobel Prize during Newton’s period, he certainly deserved at least two or more!
On a closing note, whereas Newton was respectable primarily among the scholars, Einstein was a household name not just for his contribution to physics, but also for world peace! I truly enjoyed reading this book and finished it almost within 24 hours (Thanks to Hurricane Irene wherein I was forced to stay home). I strongly recommend this book to anyone who have even a modicum of enthusiasm to learn about the legends, and a must for “All PhD students” who feel they are somewhat lost in their PhD marathon. Please read this book (http://www.amazon.com/Einstein-Newton-Comparison-Greatest-Scientists/dp/0822507528)
Some Excerpts from the book:
Newton
- Newton was born prematurely. His mother thought he would die soon after his birth
- Newton had all his teeth but one, and a full head of hair when he died! (Every man’s dream)
- Newton did not like to involve in activities that involve competition, nor did he study hard to improve grades. He however won a broad-jump contest by shrewdly waiting for a gust of wind to provide a driving force.
- Whenever Newton needed relaxation, he simply switched from mathematics to physics to chemistry to theology.
- Newton slept nude
- Newton is rarely funny!
- Newton usually keeps things to himself. Most of his discoveries that were made public is as a result of compulsion by others
- Newton’s only exercise was walking back and forth in his room
- Unlike Einstein, Newton did not produce any student, but merely helped created talented young mathematicians
- Newton was a bachelor throughout his life and a celibate
- Newton did not accept criticisms very well
- The first text book on theoretical physics was written by Newton
- At 26, the Cambridge university gave Professorship to Newton and let him do what he wants
- Once Newton was taking care of his livestock (horses) there was a storm. Excited Newton focused on calculating the speed of the wind and forget about the horses
- Newton invented differential calculus because it was required for him to continue his research about acceleration
Einstein
• Einstein is the only Nobel Laureate in physics who was awarded for his work done at his spare time, at home, entirely on his own, without being affiliated to any university
• Jewish Einstein never felt shy about supporting fellows Jews or expressing his Jewish feelings very strongly
• In 1944, Einstein handwrote a copy of his 1905 paper on special relativity (30-pages) and raised $6 million in order to contribute to the war efforts
• Einstein was straight forward. He never associated himself with Germany even after the world wars due to the mass murder committed by Hitler and his men.
• At the age of 73, Einstein was offered the “President” position of Israel. He however declined citing that he lacked natural aptitude and the experience to deal with people.
• Einstein in his last stages of life at the hospital jokingly said: “One can die without the help of Doctors”
• Einstein did not carry out any experiments
• Einstein’s got his green card in 1933 and citizenship in 1940
• Einstein was a professionally trained violinist and taught himself piano. He gave several concerts to generate funds for the needy
• Einstein considered Mahatma Gandhi and Franklin Roosevelt as the greatest contemporary statesmen
• Analysis of debris from atom bomb test of Oct 1952 shows the presence of an element whose atomic number was 99. Thereafter it was named “Einsteinium”
• In 1914, on a Solar eclipse day, a group of German astronomers went to Russia to test Einstein’s theory of gravity. The world war I broke out and these scientists were arrested
