Einstein and His Big Idea



You can probably recite this equation, but do you know what it means? Written in 1905 by Albert Einstein, this short equation represents a revolutionary idea: Energy and mass are not distinct, but are two forms of the same thing. To arrive at this deceptively simple statement, Einstein built on the innovative thinking of other scientists-including many women and other scientific "outsiders." How did E = mc² come to be, and where is it taking us today? Find out with these resources.
About Einstein \| E=mc² and other Scientists \| Interesting Takes \| Fiction \| For Kids \| Web Sites and Databases

For Adults & Teens
"Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics -- I can assure you, mine are still greater." -- Albert Einstein
About Einstein
	Einstein's brainchild : relativity made relatively easy! by Barry Parker. While tracing the story of Einstein's life, the author seizes on the crucial groundbreaking theories that Einstein envisioned.
	Einstein : the passions of a scientist by Barry Parker. A portrait of the life of Albert Einstein focuses on his passions for music, learning, women, and peace, and their effect on his scientific theories.
	Einstein for dummies by Carlos I. Calle. This fun, accessible guide clearly explains his amazing theories and the tremendous impact of his discoveries on contemporary life and science.
	Einstein revealed a NOVA Video. Albert Einstein is known as the sprightly old sage with unruly hair. But now from the pages of his private notebooks and letters, a surprising new picture emerges ; a portrait of the physicist as a passionate young man.
	Einstein's cosmos : how Albert Einstein's vision transformed our understanding of space and time by Michio Kaku. A physicist demonstrates how Albert Einstein used simple, picture-based imagery to convey his theories about relativity and subsequently changed the way people thought about the world.
	A world without time : the forgotten legacy of Gödel and Einstein by Palle Yourgrau. Takes a close-up look at the stunning discovery made by Albert Einstein and Kurt Gödel that was put on the shelf by the scientific fashions of their day and attempts to rescue from obscurity the brilliant work they did together on the nature of time.

E=mc² and other Scientists Connected to the Equation
	Einstein's heroes : imagining the world through the language of mathematics by Robyn Arianrhod. Examines the life, work, and contributions of three of Albert Einstein's heroes--Isaac Newton, Michael Faraday, and James Clerk Maxwell.
	E=mc2 : a biography of the world's most famous equation by David Bodanis. Explores the innovative thinkers behind each piece of the equation, its synthesis by Einstein, and its impact on society.
	Nobel Prize women in science : their lives, struggles, and momentous discoveries by Sharon McGrayne. Profiles 15 women who have won or contributed significantly to a Nobel Prize in science.

Interesting Takes
	Driving Mr. Albert : a trip across America with Einstein's brain by Michael Paterniti. Part travelogue, part memoir, this unique book follows an 84-year-old pathologist across the country as the country with Einstein's brain in Tupperware bowl filled with formaldehyde.
	Einstein in love : a scientific romance by Dennis Overbye. In a fresh, fascinating biography of the groundbreaking physicist, young Einstein is revealed as a passionate man--lovelorn teen, draft dodger, bohemian, poet, and ultimately, a scientist.

Fiction
	Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman A fictional recreation of Einstein's discovery of the nature of time follows the young Albert through 1905 Bern, Switzerland, as he sorts through the dreams that have persisted in his mind for several months.
	I.Q. All the world knows about Einstein the scientific genius. But what about Einstein the matchmaker? I.Q. puts this fanciful notion to the test and comes up with winning results in this fun, warm-hearted romantic comedy.

For Kids
"Why is it that nobody understands me, and everybody likes me?" -- Albert Einstein
	Albert Einstein: A Life of Genius by Elizabeth MacLeod. Uses photographs, cartoons, and quotations to tell Einstein's story.
	Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein by Don Brown. Focuses on Einstein's unique brilliance and misunderstood childhood in picture-book biography format.
	Lise Meitner: Discoverer of Nuclear Fission, by Rachel Stiffler Barron. Describes the life and career of Lise Meitner.
	Turn It Loose: The Scientist in Absolutely Everybody, by Diane Swanson. Encourages a child's inner scientist by showing that the scientific thought process is used everywhere-not just in science.
	What Is a Scientist?, by Barbara Lehn. Shows how children's natural curiosity is a form of scientific inquiry.

Web Sites & Databases
"The important thing is not to stop questioning." -- Albert Einstein
	NOVA - Einstein's Big Idea http://www.pbs.org/nova/einstein Includes a time line of significant events in Einstein's life, interactive simulations of the speed of light and the effect of motion on time, and essays on Einstein's extraordinary contributions.
	Way to Go, Einstein! http://www.ology.amnh.org/einstein Offers interactive explorations of Einstein's scientific ideas along with simple, hands-on activities.
	American Museum of Natural History Einstein Exhibit http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/einstein Features a comprehensive overview of Einstein's life, work, philosophy, and legacy.
	Biography Resource Center A great information source, the Biography Resouce Center is filled with biographical information on thousands of individuals from scholarly and popular sources. Look up Einstein and other scientists to learn more about them. Check out the library's other databases for more information on science and other subjects.