Talk:The Evolution of Physics

The Evolution of Physics
I created this article on July 19, 2007. Einstein wrote The Evolution of Physics for general readers.

This article is very short. You can made contributions by expanding this article. RS1900 14:04, 19 July 2007 (UTC)


 * The Evolution of Physics is an important book. It is one of the most popular physics book written for general readers. Someone should expand this article. RS1900 10:58, 20 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Well, this article should be improved. RS1900 05:46, 12 September 2007 (UTC)

Suggestion for other editors:Could include these on main page of article as is or with some editing and merging
"In recent years a remarkable number of our foremost physicists, such as Planck, Eddington, Jeans, Bragg, and Schroedinger, have published popular expositions of their science. None of these valuable books, however, with the exception of Bragg's 'Universe of Light,' affords so clear an insight into physical theory as the lay reader can obtain from the present volume. Its superior merit derives from two restrictions which Einstein and Infeld have imposed on their book: it deals almost exclusively with the few fundamental concepts of physics, and it considers these concepts only as leading ideas serving to coordinate experience."
 * The Nation v. 146 (May 7 1938) p. 536

"This remarkable little book seeks to deal with the great revolution of this century's interpretation of the realities behind physical events. It is an attack on a position of enormous difficulty and has been conducted with remarkable and at times brilliant clarity. Yet the difficulties are by no means completely smoothed out, nor does it seem possible that at present they can be."
 * Manchester Guardian (Apr. 12 1938) p. 7

"Although no previous technical knowledge is assumed, the book is not easy reading; indeed, no book of this kind can be that, unless its author has shirked the real difficulties of his task; and Prof. Einstein is not the man to shirk difficulty. What can be done by a singular lucidity of style, by apt illustration, and by occasional flashes of humour to smooth the path, the authors have done. The reader who pursues the path to its end will find that it brings him very near to the heart of physics. This is a book of real distinction, which no one interested in physical and philosophical ideas can afford to neglect."
 * Nature v. 141 (May 21 1938) p. 891

"Professor Einstein and his colleague have written an admirable and important book on some of the knottiest problems ever attacked by the human mind. That their philosophy is sometimes unequal to the task of dynamic interpretation may be forgiven them by virtue of their high integrity as scientists."
 * The New Republic v. 94 (Apr. 20 1938) p. 339

"Relativity became news in 1919---thirteen years after the mathematical physicists had first begun to discuss it. Out of the mass of popular writings then published to explain it to the man in the street Einstein's own article, written for The Times of London, we believe, was by far the best. This book testifies that he is still the clearest and simplest exploiter of his own theories. And it is his theories that this book deals with for the most part."
 * The New York Times (Early City Edition) (Apr. 10 1938) p. 4

"The book is for the layman, and in strict accordance with this objective, there is not a mathematical formula from cover to cover. To have presented a clear, penetrating account of the main stages in the evolution of modern physics without the use of mathematics is an extraordinary feat, and one possible only to complete masters of their subject, including its mathematics."
 * Saturday Review of Literature v. 17 (Apr. 2 1938) p. 7

"It is perhaps the adroit use of homely analogy and familiar simile as much as the delightful simplicity of diction which makes this presentation so lucid and effective. The reader who realizes that 'in order to understand any page he must have read the preceding ones carefully' is led gently along from the known to the unknown, and almost before he is aware of what has happened he finds himself upon the mountain-top of understanding, able to grasp some real comprehension of that which he had earlier thought would remain forever incomprehensible to him."
 * Scientific Book Club Review v. 9 (Mar. 1938) p. 1

"The book which Professors Einstein and Infeld have written is very much to be welcomed. It is popular in the sense that it contains no mathematics and relies on illustrations and examples for the clarification of concepts rather than on precise definitions. But it succeeds in avoiding the dangers of this method remarkably well. One of its great merits is that it is written in such a simple way that even those who have no previous knowledge of the subject can enjoy it and profit by it. At the same time it does not give the impression of unduly simplifying the ideas which it presents."
 * Spectator v. 161 (Aug. 26 1938) p. 342

Who Actually Wrote It ?
It has often been said that Einstein's actual role in the writing of this book was slight (or even "negligible"). Some internal evidence supports this, since the book contains many ideas that Einstein was known to have considered wrong. Also, Pais (one of Einstein's biographers) said Einstein was not happy with the book. Does anyone know of any good accounts of how the book was actually written? How much was by Infeld, how much by Einstein, and how much jointly?Ox3nard (talk) 20:34, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Infelds emigration
Infeld already left Poland in 1933. Since Poland wasn't occupied until 1939, he did not flee from the Nazis. It's actually far more convincing that Infeld left Poland because otherwise he had to fear his career. This might still be because he was a jew... — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sgueckel (talk • contribs) 09:35, 25 April 2012 (UTC)