An interesting exploration of Einstein's enormous contribution to science, it's initial reception and significance, and his refusal, in modern terms, to stay in his lane. Through examining Einstein's quest for a grand unified theory not just for physics, but for a way to unify science, philosophy, religion, and ethics, McGrath sheds light on what Einstein actually thought about those things and how that can inform the intellectual framework of those of living more than a century after Einstein's great discoveries.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book that explains the life, work and beliefs of Albert Einstein. It’s a good introduction to his scientific theories and how those were influenced by his beliefs in an Intelligent Designer. We owe much of what we know of the cosmos to Einstein.

He was not just a mere scientist, though he contributed more to our knowledge of physics than any other, but in some way a philosopher. His work “wove together science, ethics and religious faith to yield a richer account of reality.” He believed in a “big picture” approach to reality and that science and religion are more linked than scientists generally want to accept. They are not mutually exclusive, but enhance each other.

He had a great appreciation for the vastness of the universe. His attempt to make sense of it leaves not just himself, but all of us, to question beyond the physical, and into the transcendental. Science explains the “what” of reality, but not the “why,” which is where religion comes in, and there has to be a why.

As much as scientists would like to ignore the non-physical human aspiration to know meaning and purpose, it dominates our way of thinking and life. It is what differs us from the rest of creation and is undeniable in its influence on how we live everyday. The Spanish philosopher José Ortega y Gasset puts his finger on the issue neatly: “Scientific truth is exact, but it is incomplete.”

Our most human experiences of awe, love, sorrow, joy, etc cannot be explained by science, but need to be framed by something beyond the physical world. This transcendent reality is the framework of all of scientific knowledge. The scientist’s real task then is “uncovering the rationality of God; which is expressed in the universe.” The Christian religion is what keeps all these explanations into focus, that makes the most sense of the scientific reality as it pertains to our most human experiences.

This book covers more than what I mentioned above. It is a book on history, philosophy and even apologetics as Christians continually face accusations of being anti-science and opposition from the scientific community. And for that reason, I highly recommend it.

*I received a free advanced copy of this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.