Born-Einstein Letters, 1916-1955

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) is one of the most influential figures of the modern era. Working in Germany, Switzerland and USA, he radically transformed our understanding of the universe and took an outspoken stance on the significant political and social issues of his time. He was the father of the theory of relativity and a major contributor to quantum theory yet always found time for the political causes close to his heart. Max Born (1882-1970) won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1954 for his fundamental research in quantum mechanics. He worked at the Universities of Breslau and Gottingen before Nazism forced his family to flee to the UK, where he held chairs first at Cambridge and later at Edinburgh University. He collaborated with Pauli, Heisenberg, Fermi, Dirac, Raman, and Oppenheimer among others, while also writing and speaking frequently on the social responsibility of scientists.

'This fascinating correspondence between two of the great and subtle figures of 20th-century physics provides a wonderful insight into the ethos of a unique period in history, as well as into the thinking of these remarkable individuals.' - Professor Sir Roger Penrose, FRS 'Behind every icon lies a human being. Einstein, the man, emerges from this correspondence with Max Born as thoughtful, engaged and witty, charting the ebb and flow of fortune as he grapples with the scientific and social tumult of the early 20th century. A priceless resource for historians, and a fascinating read for scholars of all disciplines.' - Professor Paul Davies, author of How to Build a Time Machine 'These letters display an engaging intimacy, wit, erudition and humanity. They reveal two powerful minds tackling revolutionary ideas while confronted by unprecedented challenges of academic and public life, in an era of profound intellectual and political upheaval. They are vivid reflections of their time, but also timeless.' - Dr Philip Campbell, Nature 'Inspiring bedtime reading for the Year of Physics' - Professor Dennis Weaire FRS, Chair of History of Physics Division, European Physical Society 'These letters are a fascinating insight into the development of ideas in science between two of the great names in physics, put into historical and political context...for this new edition Diana Buchwald and Kip Thorne have added a preface that helps the modern reader understand some of the implications of what they are to come across...Great stuff!' - www.popularscience.co.uk '[the book] greatly benefits from an extensive preface by Buchwald and the physicist Kip Thorne...The new preface also contains valuable brief accounts of the way that physics, after the death of these two great minds, continued along lines they had pursued, showing in some detail how experimental and theoretical work in the past few decades has confirmed with great precision some of their daring speculations.' - Professor Gerald Holton, Nature 'An immensely readable personal account of the intense struggles between Einstein and other physicists. They provide even more depth to ongoing efforts to determine what 'The Old One' - as Einstein referred to his understanding of God - had intended for our universe.' - David Bodanis author of E=mc2 in Washington Post 'With a well-informed introductory essay by Buchwald and Thorne, the correspondence is a delight, enabling us to trace the development of the intriguing friendship between the two physicists and to read their views on the great themes of physics and politics of their time.' - Times Higher Educational Supplement 'They were great friends, and their correspondence addresses many different subjects, from the minutiae of daily life to Beethoven's music; from quantum physics to the Russian Revolution; from the moral responsibilities of the scientist to the Nazi persecution of the Jews.' - London Review of Books

• Introduction by Werner Heisenberg Foreword by Betrand Russell New Preface by Kip Thorne and Diana Buchwald Correspondence between Max and Hedwig Born and Albert Einstein 1916-1955 with Commentaries by Max Born. Translated by Irene Born.