A Collaborative Effort to Give Experimental Proof of Einstein’s General Relativity Theory

During WWI, Einstein developed the General Theory of Relativity. He was isolated from most scientific interaction by his residence in Germany. He was even separated from his sons, who were in Switzerland with his wife. The war devastated the scientific community as well as the rest of the country. The book gives us a grim perspective of what it was like. With his ability to concentrate, Einstein was able to complete the General Theory of Relativity and work with some other mathematicians like Grossman who were still in Germany.

For Einstein, the most important aspect of a theory was experimental confirmation. Photos taken during an eclipse were the way to prove that gravity deflected light the same way as if it had mass. The first attempt failed. However, Einstein learned of a British astronomer, Eddington, who might be convinced to make another try. After much study, Eddington felt he understood the complex theory and arranged for two teams, one in Brazil, the other in Africa, to attempt the observation. The shift observed by the team in Africa, which included Eddington, was able to verify the shift that supported Einstein’s theory.

This book covers the lives of both Einstein and Eddington during WWI. It gives a detailed picture of the suffering and waste crated by the war. It also highlights the problems of scientists who wanted to work together across national boundaries. In the aftermath of the war, Britain wanted to close it’s doors to anything German. It’s a remarkable story of how Einstein and Eddington were able to work across national prejudices to accomplish a great scientific feat.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

Highly-recommend this interesting account. Anyone interested in the history of this period and Einstein will not be disappointed. This was my first read of this author. He is very talented! This topic (science) could be dull to some people in the hands of the wrong author but definitely not the case here.

Well done. I've already recommended this one.

Einstein’s War is a comprehensive account of the many factors influencing Einstein’s theory of relativity. At times, it’s difficult to wrap your head around the science and mathematics involved, but this historical account breaks down some of the mystery.

This is the history of relativity you’ve never seen. By detailing the early life of Einstein, we see what inspired him to develop this complicated concept that would ultimately change the face of science. We also get a deep history of Arthur Stanley Eddington, an important figure you might not know much about. Eddington is potentially the reason why you’ve heard about relativity and why you know anything about this incredibly complex bit of science.

There are many layers to this deeply researched narrative. We have the history of Einstein’s scientific journey, detailing his school years, his early days of discoveries, and the eventual path that led him to study relativity. We have brief histories of the other figures who revolved around the theory. We also get a deeper understanding of the tense political climate and subsequent war that greatly influenced European advances on all fronts. It’s a fascinating history, with so many factors. The fact that Einstein’s theory ever came to fruition is astounding given the explosive world events.

Overall, Einstein’s War is a well-researched, deeply intellectual guide to the science and politics of the early twentieth century. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of relativity and how it shaped the scientific community for decades to come.

Final review to be published on May 21: https://reviewsandrobots.com/2019/05/21/einsteins-war-book-review