Reviews (5)

A better title than book
The idea conveyed by the title is wonderful, and to some degree the notion is realized.Unfortunately, it doesn't really fly.While there still may be merit in study of Einstein's educational comments to children, this volume doesn't offer much insight.
Great book ABOUT Einstein, not by him.
This book has very little actually written by Einstein himself. It gives a brief biography and background of Einstein. The letters are from children and show the enormity of his fanbase in the 1940's and 50's.The biography is informative and there are plenty of interesting pictures.The letters are interesting, but toward the end, they seem repetitive.Still, it is a great book worth buying.Barnes and noble has a cheaper edition, which makes it well worth the 6 dollars!

Misleading Title
I had been looking forward to this book's release for some time.As yet another self-confessed Einstein fan, the idea of a collection of correspondences between the greatest scientific mind in the history of human endeavour, and curious children from around the world, was irresistable.So, when I finally got my hands on it, I wanted to enjoy it very much.However, in the end, I felt a bit cheated and misled.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1879-1955    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Children    4. Correspondence    5. Einstein, Albert,    6. Essays    7. Letters    8. Literary Collections    9. Literature: Classics    10. Physicists    11. Scientists - General    12. Biography: general    13. Literary studies: general    14. Literature: Texts    15. PHYSICS    16. Science: General Issues   

Editorial Review

An academic biography, Michael D. Gordin's Read more

Reviews (6)

Deep, thought-provoking book about Russia and this great genius...
It's difficult to 'grade' a book that refused to stay on what the intended topic (as presented to the reader). When I ordered the book, I thought the picture of Mendeleev was a rather haunting one, that looked like so many of the great minds like Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, and other minds from the slightly earlier time of the Enlightenment. This was a man who started his life in the time of horse and carriage, of gas lights, of sloppy science in Russia, and ended in the next century when his country was beset by revolution...one of the very things this authoritarian abhored.
First part of book great, but I could not finish.
Chapters 1-3 of this book were exactly what I expected with the history of Mendeleev and the periodic table.However, the author mentions at the end of chapter three that Medeleev did not work on the periodic table from that point on to the end of his life.
Fascinating True Story of a Russian, Scientist, and Genius
+++++
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Subjects:  1. 1834-1907    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Chemistry - General    7. Chemists    8. History    9. History Of Science    10. Mendeleyev, Dmitry Ivanovich,    11. Periodic law    12. Russia (Federation)    13. Scientists - General    14. Biography: general    15. Chemistry   

Editorial Review

Finding out about someone by reading their correspondence is a fundamentally different thing than reading their biography. Letters offer both more intimacy with the subject and at the same time a crucial distance--the exact distance the letter-writer intended from the people to whom he was writing. In Read more

Reviews (17)

Wonderful collection
Having read "Surely you're joking, Mr Feynmann", I had wondered about his relationship with his first wife, because she was hardly mentioned.
Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the beaten Track
Feynman inspires the pursuit of truth in this spin-driven world.

Advice for aspiring scientists
Feynman wrote to the advice-seeking father of an aspiring scientist/high school student:(paraphrase) "the best advice I can give your son is to fall in love with a beautiful woman and talk to her quietly at night."
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Correspondence    6. Feynman, Richard Phillips    7. General    8. Letters    9. Physicists    10. Physics    11. Science    12. Scientists - General    13. United States    14. Biography: general    15. History of science   

Reviews (6)

Wonderful!
I can't sing Hakim's praises enough - from her History of US series to the The Story of Science, all three volumes so far.I've been an avid science fan my whole life, but not a hard science major, and I gasped all the way through these books as I learned things I never knew, but thought I'd known, or finally understood things I'd known about but that had puzzled me.Get over the "distracting" sidebars - they didn't bother me at all and they were full of great stuff.I ate these books up and I was only reading them to preview for my homeschooler who hates math and is bored by science, but loves history.Joy Hakim has a wonderful ability to take a huge subject (all of US history, for instance, and the development and progress of scientific thought in this case) and make it manageable, new and a fun read.My daughter is discovering that science and math really are amazing and play a critical, pivotal role in the unfolding of human history.

Another Great Book!
I notice that one negative review has been repeated on multiple Joy Hakim books verbatim.
This has been a WONDERFUL resource!
My daughter is homeschooled, and after reading the entire History of US Series, I knew this science series would be a must.Honestly, I learned so much about US history than I ever learned in all my years of schooling through Ms. Hakim's books.Same with the "Story of Science" Series.Some may find the sidebars distracting, but we kind of made them into a separate lesson and learned a great deal of little-known facts.And it isn't only history or science - the author weaves a little bit of everything into these books in these sidebars.I really can't recommend her books enough.So far, they have been THE favorite resource in our four years of homeschooling! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Gravity    3. History    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Light    6. Science    7. Science & Nature - General    8. Science & Nature - Physics    9. Scientists - General   

Reviews (18)

Great purchase
This book was in great shape and is an excellent read for those who want to understand

Fascinating Look at Harlow's Research
This is one of the most interesting and well written books I've ever read on this or any similar topic.To anyone who studies or has studied attachment, Blum offers an amazing look at how this early research changed the face of psychology.To anyone who has read countless poorly written descriptions of boring research studies, this book is an oasis.
Great topic, lousy subject
This is an extremely interesting book in terms of underlining how damaging scientific fads can be.The early twentieth century fad of data and cleanliness may well have led to the deaths many children as cleanliness was preferred over attention.
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Subjects:  1. 1905-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Harlow, Harry Frederick,    7. Psychologists    8. Scientists - General    9. United States    10. Biography: general    11. Physiological & neuro-psychology    12. Popular science    13. Psychological testing & measurement    14. The self, ego, identity, personality    15. Psychology    16. Biography/Memoir   

Editorial Review

After centuries of outsiders carping about scientific reductionism, the promised synthesis is finally on its way. Immunology, genetics, medicine, neurology, and other fields are starting to overlap more and more, and prominent neuropsychiatrist Nancy C. Andreasen explores one exciting intersection in Read more

Reviews (5)

medication and andreason neuroscientist
As a society we face, is it medicine or out of my house.We have some knowledge of medicine but what we don't have is knowldege of what to do with our nations poor, we need to think about this.Walking is important for people on medications but they don't tell you about this.What they don't tell you is not to drink coffee's etc. Or that many over the counters in general are bad.Our knowledge continues to grow as a society, however, there are many things we don't know.Nancy C Andreason gives a good review of things, and a well rounded perspective of things in her Brave New Brain.I am interested in also her genetics research as well.I believe the NAMI which she has mentioned is not the best helping organization though, and there is not much outside support or resources to help disabeled people which I think we need more of, when they don't have there families anymore.We need to think about how we are going to house homeless etc.

Liberating Book of Facts
Having experienced schizophrenia firsthand in my immediate family beginning in the 1950s, I was interested in seeing what medical explanations are being explored and what progress has been made regarding this devastating illness. This book beautifully presents necessary background data on brain function and on basic chemistry and genetics, and then gives lucidly presented information about new strategies and treatments. Various fields of medicine, genetics, and chemistry are coming together to present the real albeit complex picture of what these awful illnesses are about and how we can work to live with them or overcome them. Mental illness must be liberated from individual guilt, shame, and social stigma, which are still very strong in human society. Only knowledge of the facts can free us from these crippling attitudes, and this terrific book goes a long way to help. The author's PhD in literature also adds a humanistic touch to a scientific work, which I deeply appreciated.
An Excellent Overview of the Genetics of Mental Illness
Nancy Andreasen is one of the top researchers in the field of Schizophrenia so is a good person to write this book.This is a very good book on the underlying causes of schizophrenia and other brain diseases and prospects better treatments and cures based on this knowledge.Great reading for a person who wants a better understanding of how the genetics revolution is impacting our knowledge of mental illness.Writen for a layman with some background or interest in science and biology. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Genetic aspects    4. Human Genetics    5. Human genome    6. Life Sciences - Genetics & Genomics    7. Mental Disorders    8. Mental Illness    9. Neuropsychology    10. Psychology    11. Scientists - General    12. Medical / Mental Health    13. Medicine | Psychiatry & Psychology    14. Popular science    15. Psychiatry   

Editorial Review

As a young woman, Jane Goodall was best known for her groundbreaking fieldwork with the chimpanzees of Gombe, Africa. Goodall's work has always been controversial, mostly because she broke the mold of research scientist by developing meaningful relationships with her "specimens" and honoring their lives as she would other humans.Read more

Reviews (41)

Reason for Hope : A Spiritual Journey
After a lifetime unraveling the mysteries of wild chimpanzees, renowned primatologist Jane Goodall bares her soul to readers, describing the spiritual underpinnings that have shaped her life, her work, and her outlook for the future.
Reason to Read!
I find it difficult to write a review for this book other than to say it gets all five of those big ol' yellow stars.The book is intriguing to say the Least.There is no question that this is Jane's own soul searching put onto paper as well as words of wisdom from someone who is nothing short of wise.The book was enjoyable to read and I personally got much out of it.The last chapters of the book are worth reading in themselves.I don't know of many people who show the courage and integrity that Jane Goodall demonstrates.If more people would look up to positive figures such as Goodall, this world would surely be a better place.

Hmm.
I am 14 years old and I read this book for a book project in my English class.I have always admired Jane Goodall and I thought that this book would give me more information about her. When I first started the book, it was very dull.I never "got into" it and she talks way to much about her childhood. I would have rather heard about the exciting stories of the chimpazees and her adventures in Africa.Also, I know that this is a "spiritual book" but Jane Goodall talks an aweful lot about God.On very page (practically) there is a paragraph about God. I am not anti-religion or anti-God or anything like that, it's just that I don't really care about her views on God and religion.
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Subjects:  1. 1934-    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Body, Mind & Spirit    5. England    6. Goodall, Jane,    7. Life Sciences - Zoology - Primatology    8. New Age    9. Scientists - General    10. Spiritual biography    11. Spiritual life    12. Spiritualism - General    13. Women    14. Biography: general    15. Body, Mind & Spirit / Spiritualism    16. Zoology & animal sciences   

Reviews (11)

Good Collection of Nash Writings!
I only rate books that I really enjoy reading. While this one has some techy chapters, readers without a strong math background can still enjoy it. excellent
Personally, I found this book to be very interestring.The proofs and ideas are presented in clear and non-rigomorphic fashion.One is able to read the works of Nash in the way he himself presented them, and hopefully appropriate some mental strategies used by this genius.There is much that goes on behind the scene of creation of proofs.I think mathematicians of today would greatly benefit from availability of larger number of books which would contain the mathematical works in the way they were originally presented.This is certainly a major step in that direction.

A Most Welcome Mathematical Banquet
I can't begin to express how deeply satisfying it was to peruse these papers by John Nash. You almost felt you were right there at his side, as he penned them.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Econometrics    5. Economics    6. Game Theory    7. Mathematics    8. Riemannian manifolds    9. Scientists - General    10. Social Scientists & Psychologists    11. Biography: general    12. Mathematics / Advanced    13. Political Science and International Relations    14. Reference   

Editorial Review

Benjamin Franklin may have been the most remarkable American ever to live: a printer, scientist, inventor, politician, diplomat, and--finally--an icon. His life was so sweeping that this comprehensive biography by H.W. Brands at times reads like a history of the United States during the 18th century. Franklin was at the center of America's transition from British colony to new nation, and was a kind of Founding Grandfather to the Founding Fathers; he was a full generation older than George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry, and they all viewed him with deep respect. "Of those patriots who made independence possible, none mattered more than Franklin, and only Washington mattered as much," writes Brands (author of a well-received Teddy Roosevelt biography, Read more

Reviews (118)

Terrific story and superb author
Brand's has a great style with a smart wit and feel for the times as well as anecdotal material that gives great depth to his writing.

The best BF bio out there.
There are quite a few bios on Ben Franklin out there, as you probably have noticed, but I think that this is the one to read. If you just want a quick book, with the basic info, then you might turn to Edmund Morgan's or elsewhere. But if you want the whole story, then this is the way to go. The book is quite long, yet still very readable and always interesting. Franklin's life was amazing, and Brands does a great job telling his story. Highly recommended!

Best biography I have ever read
Mr. Brands has written a very in-depth yet readable biography of one of the most fascinating characters in American history.A delightful read that was hard to put down. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1706-1790    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography And Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Franklin, Benjamin,    8. Historical - General    9. Historical - U.S.    10. Political    11. Printers    12. Scientists    13. Scientists - General    14. Statesmen    15. United States    16. United States - Colonial Period    17. Biography & Autobiography / Historical    18. Franklin, Benjamin   

Reviews (11)

Tesla ; A man beyond his time?
Nikola Tesla was truely a man beyond his time, as this autobiography shows. Little mention of him in our schools, as we are told that T.A. Edison was the true inventor of many electrical items. Through this book, the truth is told. This is a book that should be required reading in all grammer schools!

Superb
Excellent book!Tesla's dry style and wry wit combine to form a greatly intuitive look into the master's life.I whole-heartedly recomend this book!
Autobiography, easy to read
You can read this book in a weekend and it's very interesting.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography / Science & Technology    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Science & Technology    4. Tesla, Nikola   

Editorial Review

Stories of famously eccentric Princetonians abound--such as that of chemist Hubert Alyea, the model for Read more

Reviews (267)

Mathematics and Madness.
_A Beautiful Mind_ by Sylvia Nasar is a fairly interesting biography of mathematician and 1994 Nobel Prize Winner in Economics, John Nash, that raises more questions than it answers.Early on in his career, Nash established for himself a reputation for genius; he fearlessly tackled difficult mathematical problems and achieved many astounding results.However, like many geniuses Nash had his eccentricities which may have foreshadowed his later illness.In many ways, Nash was not a very likeable individual, prone to arrogant boasting and often treating those around him less than kindly.Later, when Nash was to recover his sanity, it appears he unfortunately regained many of the early features of his personality that could only be seen in a negative light.For example, while it is difficult to judge him for his treatment of his chronically schizophrenic son (given the inherent tragedy of the whole affair), his treatment of his other illegitimate son is appalling (both before and after his illness).Nash's early involvement in various "homosexual" relationships (including an arrest in Santa Monica for soliciting sexual activities in a men's restroom which cost him his job at RAND) offers another disturbing aspect of his personality that may have foreshadowed his later mental collapse.Like many other mathematical geniuses (including Cantor and Godel) Nash was completely ravished by mental illness and paranoia.In fact, the dividing line between madness and genius does not appear to be clear cut in the least, and the case of John Nash seems to offer further testament to the difficulty of assessing this difference.While Nash was eventually to be diagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia tragically resulting in long periods of institutionalization and idleness, failed attempts to resume his career, and eventually becoming a mere phantom of his former self at Princeton University ("the phantom of Fine Hall") engaging in numerological dabbling, his subsequent and totally unexpected recovery of rational thought (a process he compared to dieting) led some to doubt his original diagnosis.In many ways those around Nash faced even greater hardships than he did, particularly his former wife Alicia, forced to hospitalize him repeatedly and met with criticism by both Nash and others, his "mistress" Eleanor, and his mother.All in all it was a very tragic situation, and despite Nash's brash and uncaring personality both before and after illness it is difficult not to sympathize with him throughout most of the book.And, despite the fact that Nash was to regain his sanity for the most part, offer some interesting new contributions (though on a much lesser scale), and win the Nobel Prize in Economics for his work in game theory, realistically speaking this is hardly a "happy ending" (there remains the fact of his chronically schizophrenic though extremely mathematically gifted son, his tragically failed relationships with others, and his own loss of the greater part of his life).
Much Better than the Movie
Nasser's attention to detail in Nash's work and his illness brings a more life-like face to his struggle with genius and schizophrenia.The book spends an extraordinary time explaining game theory and the basis of Nash's theory which ultimately produced his Nobel prize.Highly recommended!

SOME ALIENS AND INSANITY BUT MOSTLY A STORY OF A GENIUS.
The thing that interested me in reading this book was Nash's battle with insanity and his obsession with seeing hidden messages from aliens in publictions. I had expected much of this to have been discussed in more depth but the book really focuses on Nash's college studies and career as a mathmatical genius. Most people will probably want to buy and read this book for exactly what it is and not for the story of aliens and insanity for which I bought the book. Though the book was not what I had hoped it to be for my own personal interest I have to give it a 5 star review because I think it's exactly what the average person buying the book would expect it to be. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1928-    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Historical - U.S.    6. Mathematicians    7. Mathematicians And Their Works    8. Nash, John F    9. Nash, John F.,    10. Psychology    11. Psychopathology - Schizophrenia    12. Scientists - General    13. Specific Groups - Special Needs    14. United States    15. Biography & Autobiography / Science & Technology    16. Biography: general    17. History of mathematics   

Reviews (2)

Excellent Biography
This excellent biography of Galileo effectively relates the cultural view toward science at the time. While the church then had staunchly supported previously believed notions regarding astronomy despite Biblical references that did not concur with those thoughts, Galileo persevered in pursuing truth based on factual observations. Galileo was a role model for our present youth to continue to test scientific observations and draw conclusions based upon factual data rather than the reputation and popularity of other scientists and their views, however long-standing those theories may have existed.

A Renaissance Man
This book was a fun and informative read. The author, Jeanne Bendick, included much about the times and way of life. She clearly explains and illustrates the thoughts of the day about the universe as well as thedifferences between the thinking of the ancient Greeks and Galileo, who didnot blindly accept the ancient teachings.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. History - Exploration & Discovery    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Scientists - General   

Reviews (49)

Nice work
Probably the most INsightful worK Of Probably the most misUNderstood and unKnOwn fathers of our constitution. AND THE UNCANNY thing about it is that many scholars, both american and CANADIAN ARE Just as ignorant as their viEWing audience of Fans And General readerS.

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography creates a portal into the mind of one of America's greatest minds.Not only did Franklin play a pivotal role in the development of our nation but he also made huge advancements in the field of electricity.His descriptions of experiences such as the famous kite experiment grant some understanding of just how remarkable these revelations were in the mid-1700s.His subsequent invention of the lightning rod, something taken for granted today, is fascinating to read about in his own words.Learning about the electrical innovations that Franklin made, written in his own words and in the language of the period offers a unique approach to the subject of electricity.The fact that Franklin managed to accomplish all of these feats in addition to playing the role as a Founding Father is astounding and only adds to the significance of the his individual successes.

America's Original Genuis
Ben Franklin details his interesting life in his own words. If you want an investment guide, self-help book, historical read, business primer, and a look into the life of an American original, this is it, all in one medium length book. Some readers will find the phrasing antiquated, and sentence structure longer than normal. A small quibble that reflects more upon our modern age than the work itself. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1706-1790    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Franklin, Benjamin,    7. Historical - General    8. Historical - U.S.    9. History & Theory - General    10. Political    11. Scientists - General    12. Statesmen    13. United States    14. United States - Colonial Period    15. Biography: general    16. Franklin, Benjamin    17. Literary Collections / General    18. USA   

Reviews (46)

Fascinating life....bland interpretation
Kanigel offers a very "American" interpretation of both Ramanujan's Indian life and the U.K. university life he briefly led w/ G.H. Hardy at Cambridge.
Excellent Book
A great biography of one of mathematics most intriguing and gifted disciples. Worth every penny.

Great book about the life of a mathematical genius
This is an engrossing, fascinating and well written and researched book about an Indian mathematical prodigy who burst upon the world scene in the early 19th century only to die under tragic circumstances a few years later. The book chronicles the life history of Srinivasa Ramanujan, a poor clerk in South India, who wrote a letter filled with his math formulae and discoveries to the famous English mathematician G. H. Hardy. Hardy recognized the letter as the work of a genius, even though Ramanujan had no formal training in math, not even a college degree. Ramanujan then left to England to work with Hardy in Cambridge. The intuitive brilliance of Ramanujan, combined with the formality and rigor of Hardy, gave rise to a unique and fruitful mathematical partnership. The life of Ramanujan was cut short however when he succumbed to tuberculosis at the tender age of thirty two.
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Subjects:  1. (Godfrey Harold),    2. 1877-1947    3. 1887-1920    4. Biography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Great Britain    8. Hardy, G. H    9. India    10. Mathematicians    11. Ramanujan, Aiyangar Srinivasa,    12. Scientists - General    13. Biography & Autobiography / General    14. Ramanujan, Aiyangar Srinivasa   

Reviews (9)

Superb
A first rate biography should include a good description of the important achievements of the subject, give a good sense of the subject's personality, provide the appropriate historic context in which to view the subject, be well written, and have good documentation.Westfall's biography of Newton is first-rate in all these dimensions. Newton is arguably the most important person in modern history.His work inaugurates both modern mathematics and modern physics.His achievements as a physicist set the pattern not only for physics but also for the other natural sciences. Newton's impact in larger culture extended also beyond the world of sciences.The historian of religion George Marsden wrote that Newton was the most important individual in the founding of the 18th century Enlightenment.Though Newton cannot be considered a member of that movement, his example of demonstrating universal natural laws understandable by human reason was immensely influential in European intellectual culture.
Awesome!
I just finished Westfall's biography of Sir Isaac Newton.The man was way more amazing than I ever expected.For myself, being neither a mathematician nor a physicist, the most fascinating and surprising thing was his in depth and, for the time, out of the box examination of religion.
The Most Authoritated Biography Of the Worlds Greatest Genius!!!!!
Little can be added to the life of Sir Issac Newtons but what can be more clearly described as in this biography is Newtons moments of reasons with his numerous precarious situations.For example Newtons life long feud with the imbecile Robert Hook their is a newton letter quoted early in this relationship.Newton was trying to befriended and appeased Hooke with the comment " If I have seen further than others it is because I have stood on the shoulders of Giants".This reference to giants was a complement to the fair work of Robert Hooke who was at the timePresident of the Royal Society of Science.Soon this relationship again deteriorated and they became arch enemies for the remainder of their lives.Westfall captures these glistening moments better than the other five magor biographies of Newton I have read.Being a urologist it fills me with grief that Newton died of a severe Prostate obstruction and infection.Which I assume was not uncommon for those elderly men of the early 18th century. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Historical - British    5. History    6. History Of Science    7. Physics (General)    8. Scientists - General    9. Biography: general    10. PHYSICS    11. Science / History   

Reviews (14)

Sad Story
I really enjoyed reading th