#187 Albert Einstein

In the engaging biography "Einstein: His Life and Universe" by Walter Isaacson, the paradoxical nature of Albert Einstein is explored, revealing his profound curiosity and penchant for solitude that fueled his groundbreaking work in physics. Despite his detachment from personal relationships and disdain for authority, Einstein's nonconformist attitude and relentless pursuit of simplicity in scientific theories allowed him to defy conventional wisdom and contribute immensely to our understanding of the universe. His life, marked by the turmoil of two World Wars and the rise of Hitler, which led to his emigration to the United States and involvement in the atomic age, illustrates the complex interplay between his scientific pursuits, personal convictions, and the tumultuous historical context. Einstein's legacy is not only in his scientific achievements but also in his advocacy for intellectual freedom and individuality, reflecting his belief in the importance of creativity and the individual's role in advancing society.

• Einstein's brain was removed and preserved by Thomas Harvey without family consent.
• Harvey believed in the scientific value of studying Einstein's brain.
• Einstein's brain was stored in jars and slides, and parts were distributed to researchers.
• Harvey spent 43 years as the custodian of Einstein's brain before returning it to Princeton Hospital.

"Hours after his death, a routine autopsy was performed by the pathologist at Princeton Hospital, Thomas Harvey. When he stitched the body back up, Harvey decided, without asking permission, to embalm Einstein's brain and keep it."

This quote explains the initial unauthorized preservation of Einstein's brain by Thomas Harvey, highlighting the beginning of its posthumous journey.

• Steve Jobs admired the A-players at Pixar and aimed to replicate this at Apple.
• Jobs was inspired by J. Robert Oppenheimer's recruitment for the atom bomb project.
• Jobs's aspiration to create a team of top talents was influenced by historical figures.

"At Pixar, it was a whole company of A-players. So when I got back to Apple, that's what I decided to try to do. My role model was J. Robert Oppenheimer. I read about the type of people he sought for the atom bomb project."

This quote demonstrates Jobs's desire to emulate the high standards and recruitment strategies of Oppenheimer, applying this approach to his work at Apple.

• Einstein was an independent thinker and a misfit.
• His imprudent instincts led to questioning received wisdom.
• Einstein's curiosity and imagination were key to his scientific success.
• His disdain for authority resulted in academic and employment challenges.

"Einstein remained consistent in his willingness to be a serenely amused loner who was comfortable, not conforming, independent in his thinking."

This quote summarizes Einstein's personality as someone who valued independence and non-conformity, which were integral to his approach to life and work.

• Einstein valued education that fostered free action and personal responsibility.
• He opposed authoritarian teaching methods in favor of hands-on learning and conceptual thinking.
• Einstein's own experiences in education influenced his views on how learning should occur.

"An appreciation for the glories of science is a joyful trait for a good society."

This quote reflects Einstein's belief in the importance of fostering a society that values scientific understanding and maintains a sense of wonder.

• From a young age, Einstein exhibited a strong focus and a passion for solving complex problems.
• His ability to concentrate allowed him to excel in self-directed learning.
• Einstein's nonconformist attitude was present even in his youth, affecting his relationships with authority figures.

"By age twelve, he already had a predilection for solving complicated problems and applied arithmetic."

This quote highlights Einstein's early inclination towards complex problem-solving, indicating his natural proficiency in mathematics and physics.

• Einstein's rebellious nature led to conflicts with his professors.
• His reluctance to accept authority hindered his early career opportunities.
• Despite his brilliance, Einstein's nonconformity was a double-edged sword.

"You're a very clever boy, Einstein, an extremely clever boy. But you have one great fault. You never let yourself be told anything."

This quote captures the tension between Einstein's intelligence and his unwillingness to conform, which was both a strength in his scientific endeavors and a hindrance in his academic career.

• Einstein faced significant challenges in securing a job after graduating due to poor relationships with his professors.
• Despite his genius, Einstein was not offered a job while his peers were, highlighting the importance of interpersonal skills.
• The story underscores the value of building relationships, even with those you may not personally like, for professional success.

"He managed to become the only person graduating in his section who was not offered a job." This quote emphasizes the consequences Einstein faced due to strained relationships with his professors, despite his intellectual capabilities.

• Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, believed in the importance of humility and the negative impact of public displays of ego on building an organization.
• Walton's autobiography contains valuable lessons, including the need to use ego for confidence and drive, but not for show.

"I learned a long time ago that exercising your ego in public is definitely not the way to build an effective organization." Sam Walton's quote reflects his belief that a visible ego can hinder the growth and effectiveness of an organization, a lesson that could be relevant to Einstein's earlier career issues.

• Einstein's father wrote to Professor Oswald, seeking a job for Einstein, highlighting his son's talent and dedication to science.
• The irony that Oswald did not respond to the letter but later nominated Einstein for the Nobel Prize is noted.
• This story parallels the experience of WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton, who was rejected for a job by Facebook but later sold WhatsApp to them for $19 billion.

"Albert is 22 years old. He studied at Zurich Polytechnic for four years, and he passed his exam with flying colors last summer." This quote from Einstein's father's letter to Professor Oswald showcases Einstein's academic excellence and his father's efforts to help him secure a position in academia.

• Einstein's inability to secure a teaching position left him discouraged and aware of the negative impact of poor references from his professors.
• The importance of building relationships with people, even those you may not like, is highlighted as a key to success.
• Jocko Willink's advice on working with difficult people is shared as a strategy for being effective and achieving goals.

"Under these circumstances, it no longer makes sense to write further to professors, since should things get far enough along, it is certain that they would inquire with Weber and he would again give a poor reference." Einstein's quote reflects his realization that his strained relationship with Professor Weber was a barrier to his career advancement.

• Einstein's friend Grossman helped him secure a position at the Swiss Patent Office, which Einstein found to be a wonderful opportunity.
• During his time at the patent office, Einstein was able to work efficiently, leaving time for his own scientific pursuits.
• Einstein's boss at the patent office had a credo that encouraged critical thinking and questioning of conventional wisdom, similar to Jeff Bezos's approach to reading narratives.

"I am frightfully busy. Every day. I spend 8 hours at the office and at least 1 hour of private lessons. And then in addition, I do some scientific work." Einstein's quote gives insight into his work ethic and ability to balance his job responsibilities with his passion for scientific research.

• Einstein and his friends formed the Olympia Academy to read and discuss the works of great thinkers, fostering a rich intellectual environment.
• The group would engage in discussions, play music, and enjoy nature together, illustrating the balance between work and personal interests.
• Einstein later reminisced about the Olympia Academy with fondness, comparing it favorably to more formal academic institutions.

"We would marvel at the sun as it came slowly towards the horizon and finally appeared in all of its splendor to bathe in the alps." This quote captures the sense of wonder and camaraderie experienced by Einstein and his friends during their time at the Olympia Academy.

• Einstein's father died without seeing his son achieve significant success, which left Einstein with a lifelong sense of guilt.
• The story draws parallels to other individuals, like Pat Riley, who felt the absence of a parental figure during their moments of success.

"My father dies, and as far as he knows, all I'm ever going to be a patent examiner." This quote expresses the poignant regret Einstein felt that his father did not live to see his remarkable achievements in the field of physics.

• Despite a lack of recognition for his early work, Einstein's "miracle year" in 1905 marked a significant contribution to theoretical physics.
• Einstein's approach to generating new ideas was based on intuition informed by previous intellectual experiences.
• The famous equation E=mc² is explained in terms of its implications for the relationship between mass and energy.

"Had he given up theoretical physics at this point, the scientific community would not have noticed." This quote underscores the dramatic shift in Einstein's career trajectory during his "miracle year," which could have easily gone unnoticed had he abandoned his work.

• Einstein's unique teaching style involved developing his thoughts live in front of his students, providing them with insight into his working process.
• His informal and interactive approach to lecturing left a lasting impression on his students.

"We obtained some insight into his working technique. We certainly appreciated this more than any stylistically perfect lecture." This quote from a student of Einstein's highlights the value and impact of his distinctive teaching method.

• Einstein was not considered a good teacher by those who were not his students, but his actual students greatly appreciated his teaching style.
• His teaching was tailored for those who wanted to truly understand physics and develop their own ideas, not just memorize information for exams.
• Einstein encouraged active thinking and participation in his lectures.

"He is not a good teacher for mentally lazy gentlemen who merely want to fill a notebook and then learn it by heart for an exam."

This quote underscores Einstein's disdain for rote learning and his preference for teaching students who are intellectually curious and willing to engage deeply with the subject matter.

• Einstein struggled with personal relationships, particularly marriage, and was not monogamous.
• He married his cousin Elsa after leaving his first wife, with whom he had a complex relationship.
• Einstein's difficulty with personal relationships is exemplified by the strict terms of cohabitation he set with his first wife.

"Personal relationships involve nature's most mysterious forces. Outside judgments are easy to make and hard to verify."

This quote reflects Einstein's view on the complexity of personal relationships and the difficulty of understanding them from an external perspective.

• Einstein believed that dwelling on negative emotions was unproductive and advocated for tackling problems independently.
• He expressed a philosophy of personal resilience and self-reliance.

"I thought it was fantastic to dwell on the things that depress or anger us does not help in overcoming them. One must knock them down alone."

The quote highlights Einstein's belief in confronting and overcoming personal challenges without becoming consumed by negative emotions.

• Einstein's scientific exploration was likened to entrepreneurship by his friend, with the understanding that not all paths pursued would lead to success.
• The idea that experimentation and taking incremental steps can lead to faster learning was compared to the approach of Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia.

"Sometimes, since he seeks in all directions, one must expect the majority of the paths on which he embarks to be blind alleys."

This quote draws a parallel between Einstein's scientific exploration and the trial-and-error nature of entrepreneurship, emphasizing that failure is a part of the process of discovery.

• Einstein's detached nature allowed him to work intensely and maintain a level of emotional distance from others.
• His detachment was also seen in his approach to scientific work, allowing him to challenge conventional wisdom.

"My passionate sense of social responsibility has always contrasted oddly with my pronounced lack of need for direct contact with other human beings and communities."

Einstein acknowledges his own paradoxical nature, being deeply socially responsible yet emotionally detached from close interpersonal relationships.

• Einstein was averse to conforming to societal expectations and resisted the pressure to assimilate.
• His nonconformist attitude was consistent in both his personal life and scientific endeavors.

"The undignified mania of trying to adapt and conform and assimilate, which happens among many of my social standing, has always been very repulsive to me."

This quote captures Einstein's strong aversion to conformity and his commitment to maintaining his individuality and principles.

• Einstein lived through both World War I and World War II, which influenced his personal and professional life.
• His commitment to individual dignity and intellectual freedom was put to the test during these tumultuous times.

"Basic to his thinking was that recognition of the dignity of the individual and the protection of political and intellectual freedom."

This quote emphasizes Einstein's core values regarding the importance of individual dignity and freedom, which guided his actions during periods of political unrest.

• Initially a pacifist, Einstein's views evolved in response to the rise of Hitler and the threat of war.
• He recognized the limitations of pacifism as a response to certain threats and adjusted his stance accordingly.

"I'm not only a pacifist, I'm a militant pacifist."

This quote reflects Einstein's initial commitment to pacifism, which he later reconsidered in the face of extreme threats like the rise of Hitler.

• Einstein's later years were marked by a shift from a restless rebel to a more settled figure.
• His move to Princeton allowed him to focus on his work without the distractions of teaching or administrative duties.

"Use for yourself little but give to others much."

Einstein's advice to his stepdaughters encapsulates his ethos of living a life of modesty and generosity, contributing to the well-being of others.

• Einstein left Germany in December, just before Hitler rose to power.
• After Hitler's rise, antisemitic actions increased rapidly, with brown shirts ransacking Jewish homes.
• Einstein vowed never to return to Germany, emphasizing the importance of civil liberty, tolerance, and equality.
• His Berlin apartment was raided by Nazis multiple times, and his property was seized under false pretenses.

"I don't dare step on german soil, Einstein wrote on March 10. As long as I have any choice in the matter, I shall live only in a country where civil liberty, tolerance, and equality of all citizens before law prevail."

This quote encapsulates Einstein's commitment to fundamental human rights and his decision to avoid Germany due to the oppressive regime.

• Einstein began to mute his pacifist views in response to the threat posed by Hitler.
• Nazis confiscated Einstein's possessions, including his boat, under false accusations.
• Hitler's intense ideology and antisemitic laws led to a significant brain drain from Germany, including Nobel laureates and physicists.

"A massive, massive brain drain that you did to yourself, you doofus."

The quote criticizes Hitler's policies that drove away Germany's intellectual capital, highlighting the detrimental impact of his actions on the country's scientific community.

• Einstein and other refugee scientists played a crucial role in the Allies' development of the atom bomb.
• He urged FDR to prioritize atomic research in response to rumors of German advancements.
• Einstein later expressed regret over his involvement, conditional on the threat posed by Germany.

"Fittingly, such refugees from fascism who left Germany... help to assure that the Allies, rather than the Nazis, first developed the atom bomb."

This quote underscores the irony of Hitler's policies inadvertently contributing to the Allies' atomic advancements, thanks to the emigration of key scientists like Einstein.

• Einstein never returned to Europe after leaving Zurich, unaware it would be his last time there.
• He valued freedom and solitude as foundations for creativity.
• Einstein suggested employing scientists as lighthouse keepers to think undisturbed.

"If we want to resist the powers that threaten to suppress intellectual and individual freedom, we must be clear what is at stake."

Einstein's quote emphasizes the critical need to defend intellectual and individual freedoms to foster creativity and progress.

• Einstein required minimal equipment for his work, highlighting his simplicity.
• Known for his kind and gentle demeanor, he was also absentminded and unconcerned with appearances.
• His anecdotes reveal a humorous side, including getting lost on walks and joining in his own standing ovation.

"A desk, a table, a chair, paper, and pencils. Oh, yes, and a large wastebasket so I can throw away all my mistakes."

Einstein's quote reflects his modest needs for work and his humorous acknowledgment of the importance of recognizing and discarding errors.

• Einstein was recognized for his persistence in tackling problems.
• He experienced regret over his letter to FDR about the atom bomb, mitigated by the potential threat of German success.
• Despite not being directly involved, Einstein indirectly assisted the Manhattan Project.

"His tenacity in sticking to a problem for years, in returning to the problem again and again. This is the characteristic feature of Einstein's genius."

The quote highlights Einstein's dedication to problem-solving as a key aspect of his intellectual prowess.

• Einstein and Oppenheimer had a relationship based on mutual respect despite differences.
• Einstein advocated for a world government, which Oppenheimer found unrealistic.
• Oppenheimer admired Einstein's purity and stubbornness.

"He was almost holy without sophistication and holy without worldliness."

Oppenheimer's description of Einstein captures his unique character, combining innocence with a strong sense of determination.

• Einstein defended free speech and independent thought during the McCarthy era.
• He believed in the ethical responsibility to speak out against unjust laws.
• Einstein felt a duty to use his voice for those who were intimidated or restrained.

"Einstein believed he was being a good rather than a disloyal citizen."

This quote reflects Einstein's conviction that upholding the principles of free speech was an act of patriotism, not disloyalty.

• Einstein accepted his mortality with peace, reflecting on life's transience.
• He declined surgery for his aneurysm, choosing to face death with dignity.
• Einstein's curiosity and pursuit of simplicity were central to his intellectual life.

"Brief is this existence as a fleeting visit in a strange house, the path to be pursued is poorly lit by a flickering consciousness."

Einstein's metaphorical description of life and death illustrates his philosophical perspective on human existence and its ephemeral nature.