Chapter 4: A Truly Beautiful Mind
The Life of Albert Einstein
This chapter provides a human perspective on Albert Einstein, showing him not just as a scientific genius, but as a "world citizen" concerned with global peace and humanity.
Born in Ulm, Germany. Head deemed "too large" by his mother.
Annus Mirabilis: Published four papers on Light, Motion of Particles, Electrodynamics, and Energy (E=mc²).
Published General Theory of Relativity, providing a new interpretation of gravity.
Received the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Struggles and Identity
Einstein was a late talker and was considered "stupid" by his headmaster. He hated the strict regimentation of German schools and eventually moved to liberal Switzerland to continue his studies.
"When you sit with a nice girl for two hours, it seems like two minutes. When you sit on a hot stove for two minutes, it seems like two hours—that’s relativity." — Albert Einstein
Advocate for Peace
Disturbed by the destruction caused by the atomic bomb (which his research unintentionally helped create), Einstein spent his later years campaigning for world government and nuclear disarmament.
Poem: The Lake Isle of Innisfree
Nature's Solitude
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
By William Butler Yeats
Key Learnings
- Genius often starts with unconventional thinking and rebellion.
- Scientific discovery should be balanced with ethical responsibility.
- True beauty lies in a mind that cares for the world.