The expanded quotable Einstein. With a foreword by Freeman Dyson (Q2736600)

This book consists mainly in a collection of citations of A. Einstein. There has been a previous version published in 1996. In this new edition, new quotations have been added and some of the original material has been corrected. Future editions are planned.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe foreword written by F. Dyson provides some information on how the A. Einstein archives were handled after his death and F. Dyson hopes that he has not betrayed H. Dukas who protected the data by tacitly approving here the publication of some of the material which she did not want to disclose.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThere is a chronology of A. Einstein's life (where unfortunately the reasons for most of his moves are not explained) and a family tree (which unfortunately focuses mainly on his descent. The reviewer comments that a family tree covering his ascent has been published). NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe book is organized by themes: ``On Einstein himself'', ``On his Family'', and then alphabetically: ``On Death'', ``On Education and Academic Freedom'', ``On Friends, Specific Scientists and Others'', ``On Germans and Germany'', ``On Humankind'', ``On Jews, Israel, Judaism and Zionism'', ``On Life'', ``On Music'', ``On Pacifism'', ``On Peace, War, the Bomb and the Military'', ``On Politics, Patriotism and Government'', ``On Religion, God and Philosophy'', ``On Science and Scientists, Mathematics and Technology'', and finally ``On Miscellaneous Subjects''.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEAnother section presents quotations misattributed to Einstein or of unclear origin. Further, the author has collected citations from others on Einstein as well as miscellaneous aspects of his personal and academic life but the title of this last chapter does not seem to be well suited.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEIn an Appendix, one finds some information on the 1427 pages of the FBI file on Einstein. One learns that his life has been intruded upon from 1941 (at least) until his death (without him knowing it).NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINETwo letters of A. Einstein to T. Roosevelt are reproduced. The 1939 letter points out at the possible development of new weapons through nuclear fission. The main danger here is seen in the parallel efforts in Germany. In both letters he mentions or recommends Dr. Szilard as a suitable middleman between politicians and scientists.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEA bibliography, an index of key words and a subject index end the volume.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThis book which reminds one of La Rochefoucauld [Reflexions ou Sentences et Maximes Morales (1665)] is not only a succession of aphorisms of a leading man of science who developed his wiseness (science and wiseness being not necessarily incompatible), it also shows A. Einstein's humanity.