Books like The Einstein Reader

In summary: A brilliant introduction to Albert Einstein, in his own words no less. While there is plenty of science to be found, Readers who are interested in his political and ethical writings will find this book a must read."...Today i'm described in Germany as a "German savant", and in England as a "Swiss jew". Should it ever be in my fate to be represented as a bete noire, I should, on the contrary, become a "Swiss jew" for the Germans and a "German savant" for the English." -Albert Einstein (1919)The review:The problem with most biographies these days is that you have to deal with the narrator. In fact, looking around reviews I find that people find the "voice" of the biographer a bigger issue then the subject. Especially with subjects like Einstein where their lives (or even simply the interests of their lives) can be a bit overwhelming.Thankfully theres an alternative, and thats books like The Einstein Reader. Here you will find important self-contained essays written by al himself, taking place in some of the most turbulent times in world history (This volume gathers material mainly from 1934-1950, the previous book The World as I see It covers the previous years).The subjects and viewpoints within the novel are the main driving force of interest, as they come directly from Einstein himself in that moment in time.Want to hear his take on education? It's in the book.Want to hear his thoughts on racism in America? It's in the book.Want to hear his reaction to the holocaust, and the jewish crisis postwar? It's in the book.The book definitely deals with ethics and politics, as well as science (they are, no doubt always part of each other). It's a relief to have another book that dispels the myth that Einstein was all mind and no conscience. Many essays in here are in fact open letters when he worked with the UN. Theres a great deal of material here that still resonates today, whether it's his plea for a world government, his efforts to eliminate the threat of a global nuclear arsenal, or a powerful speech to intellectuals to take responsibility in their work and realize the global consequences of their actions. A lot of the more physics based bits are put in to provide a backdrop, rather then a primary focus. A lot of this stuff will no doubt go over some people's heads, but the passionate and concise way it's written adds a relateabilty thats often lost in a boring classroom. He definitely had a gentleman's way with his writing. The book only has two real caveats, the major one being that the dates of when each essay is written is only shown at the chapter list in the beginning. Since the essays are shown out of order and arranged by subject, one has to constantly go back to the chapter list to see the year it was published. And one must do this, as some essays lack the appropriate tension with the historical context removed. The second is more of a lament. While the book is a perfect size for a travellers companion, it's also a bit too light. I find it very hard to believe that this is all of his major writings in this period of his life. And even if it was, it would have been nice to have some of his political letters published here as well. There is one gathering of back and forth letters here where he argues with a soviet scientist as to whether or not the soviet union should join the UN. It was a fascinating kind of piece that I wish the book had more of. Still, if there ever were an introduction to the legendary mind, this is it. Along with The World as I see It, this is a must read for history lovers and science lovers alike.