IF YOU hanker after rare Einstein-related facsimiles, such as his 1896 school-leaving certificate (physics grade: 6/6), his 1940 American certificate of naturalisation, or his handwritten lecture notes on relativity in Berlin and Zurich from 1918-19, then this superbly illustrated book on his life and work, all packed in a sturdy box, is for you.
The intelligent text by Einstein biographer Walter Isaacson is surprisingly serious, with German documents translated. There are slips – for example, nothing on Einstein’s powerful opposition to the hydrogen bomb. Nonetheless, this elaborate production makes for a pleasurably distracting read.
Perfect for: Einstein aficionados who think…
