Book Review: ‘Einstein: The Man and His Mind’: Easy Introduction to an Extraordinary Mind

Readers will focus more on the man than on his theories in "Einstein: The Man and His Mind." (Damiani)

For centuries, Isaac Newton was the man when it came to our understanding of how the universe works. And then came Albert Einstein, who forever changed the dynamics of space, time, energy, and gravity.

“Einstein: The Man and His Mind” is not a scholarly, theoretical tome. It is not an in-depth biography of this man who fled Nazi Germany in the 1930s and became an American citizen in 1940, spending his last decades at Princeton University. Readers won’t be overwhelmed trying to grasp the complexities and genius of his theories.

Authors Gary S. Berger and Michael DiRuggiero are longtime admirers of Albert Einstein. Berger is not a physicist or historian. He is a physician and a collector who for 25 years has gathered original documents and photographs. From an early age, Berger was fascinated with Einstein and his mind, a mind so curious that he accomplished what no one had before him. Einstein’s grasp of physical reality and its incomprehensible simplicity was a world-changing discovery that has had ripple effects in myriad sciences.

Gary S. Berger has had a lifelong interest in Einstein and is co-author with Michael DiRuggiero of a unique collection of materials about Albert Einstein. (Rochester.edu)

Michael DiRuggiero is co-founder and current owner of The Manhattan Rare Book Company. He specializes in the history of science, with a notable emphasis on the work of Albert Einstein.

Together, their collaboration has created a very unique and user-friendly volume. It is for the scholar and novice alike. It is for anyone who has an interest in Einstein, but even more than that, it is an invitation to glimpse moments in the life of a genius.

A Heavy Lift

Let me share my initial visceral reaction. This is a big book in all aspects. It measures 10 by 13 inches and is more than an inch thick. It’s also weighty, coming in at 4.6 pounds. This is a substantial, what I could call “coffee table” book. I smiled to myself as I picked it up, thinking, “This is a heavy book ... fitting for a man who delved into the mysteries of the universe.”

I don’t normally talk about the physical characteristics of books reviewed, but the sheer elegance of this book is worth noting. The text is broken apart by many of his famous quotes. The paper stock is heavy, the typestyle easy on the eyes, and several of the pages fold out to reveal Einstein’s handwritten equations.

Einstein in his office at the University of Berlin in 1921 where he began his world-changing scientific discoveries. (Public Domain)

What is particularly engaging are the photographs, many of them signed by Einstein. They are large and compelling, whether he is pictured in a dapper suit or his preferred relaxed mode in a Levi leather bomber jacket. Most photos have him holding his pipe and sporting longish and unkempt hair.

A Lifetime of Learning

Readers will no doubt establish a kinship with this esteemed physicist as they gaze into his penetrating eyes and see depth and wisdom, often a tinge of sadness, a hint of humor, and always caring and kindness.

Einstein was a pacifist. He disdained what was happening in his native Germany. He was a lover of music and respected children for their energy and curiosity about life. He enjoyed sailing and hours of quiet thinking.

As a pacifist, Albert Einstein declared his opposition to the "H" bomb and to the arms race during a 1950 TV broadcast at Princeton University. (AFP via Getty Images)

He made America his home, as did many of his professional and personal friends. He was at home with intellectuals—from other scientists to authors, artists, photographers, and writers.

When his theories were first introduced in papers in the early 1900s, few initially recognized the future consequences of his discoveries. His brilliance would eventually shine among his peers as well as the general populace. He was loved and adored by many, even though his accomplishments were barely understood.

Albert Einstein during a lecture in Vienna in 1921, where he began to develop his theories. (Public Domain)

An avalanche of books has been written about Albert Einstein, a household name for most of us. This book, written from the perspective of lifelong admirers who want his legacy to remain intact, invites readers to take a close look at his equations, photos of him working, and portrayals of him as more than a scientist—also as a man with deep convictions and emotions, endless curiosity and passion, and a devotion to imagination and knowledge.

Einstein’s legacy stems from his fundamental and earthshaking contributions to science. His universal appeal and status in the world go well beyond the fame acquired through the worlds of art and literature, movies, or digital media. Decency, attacks on discrimination, human rights, war, and peace—these were all topics he explored beyond science, and all with the same gusto and drive.

With legacy in mind, the book is dedicated to the memory of Albert Einstein. All royalties will be contributed to the Albert Einstein Archives at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Einstein was one of the founding fathers of this institution.

It’s a weighty book, literally. Yet it is light, airy, refreshing, and deeply satisfying to touch briefly on the Einstein phenomena and to experience this incredible man’s life up close and personal.

A volume worth holding, reading, viewing, and relishing.

Albert Einstein’s grasp of physical reality led to ripple effects in myriad sciences, as reported in "Einstein: The Man and His Mind." (Damiani)

‘Einstein: The Man and His Mind’ By Gary S. Berger and Michael DiRuggiero Damiani, Nov. 8, 2022 (United States) Hardcover: 212 pages