Einstein's Mistakes
By Hans Ohanian
Category
ScienceRecommended by
"Einstein's Mistakes," written by Hans Ohanian, delves into the remarkable scientific career of Albert Einstein, focusing on the lesser-known errors made by the scientific genius. Through meticulous research and analysis, Ohanian explores the implications of Einstein's mistakes and the impact they had on his groundbreaking theories.
The book begins by examining Einstein's early work on Brownian motion. Ohanian exposes the errors in Einstein's calculations and demonstrates how his incorrect assumptions led to erroneous predictions. Despite this, these mistakes ultimately pushed Einstein forward and helped refine his understanding of the physics underlying Brownian motion.
Ohanian then moves on to discuss Einstein's misstep in formulating the cosmological constant and its role in his theory of general relativity. By elucidating the consequences of this error and how it created unnecessary complications in his equations, the author sheds light on Einstein's growth as a scientist and his willingness to reconsider his assumptions.
In the subsequent chapters, Ohanian delves into Einstein's rejection of quantum mechanics and his efforts to disprove the theory. He elucidates the reasoning behind Einstein's discomfort with the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics and how his disagreement with it ultimately hindered his own advancement in the field.
Additionally, Ohanian explores Einstein's skepticism toward the existence of black holes, despite his contributions to the theory of general relativity. Through an analysis of Einstein's thought process and arguments against the concept, the author illuminates Einstein's struggle to accept the implications of his own scientific breakthroughs.
Throughout "Einstein's Mistakes," Ohanian presents a balanced narrative, offering a nuanced understanding of Einstein's intellectual journey. The book serves as a testament to the notion that even the greatest scientific minds are not infallible and points to the importance of embracing and learning from our mistakes.
Concise and thought-provoking, "Einstein's Mistakes" sheds light on the human side of scientific progress while paying homage to the genius and perseverance of Albert Einstein.
The book begins by examining Einstein's early work on Brownian motion. Ohanian exposes the errors in Einstein's calculations and demonstrates how his incorrect assumptions led to erroneous predictions. Despite this, these mistakes ultimately pushed Einstein forward and helped refine his understanding of the physics underlying Brownian motion.
Ohanian then moves on to discuss Einstein's misstep in formulating the cosmological constant and its role in his theory of general relativity. By elucidating the consequences of this error and how it created unnecessary complications in his equations, the author sheds light on Einstein's growth as a scientist and his willingness to reconsider his assumptions.
In the subsequent chapters, Ohanian delves into Einstein's rejection of quantum mechanics and his efforts to disprove the theory. He elucidates the reasoning behind Einstein's discomfort with the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics and how his disagreement with it ultimately hindered his own advancement in the field.
Additionally, Ohanian explores Einstein's skepticism toward the existence of black holes, despite his contributions to the theory of general relativity. Through an analysis of Einstein's thought process and arguments against the concept, the author illuminates Einstein's struggle to accept the implications of his own scientific breakthroughs.
Throughout "Einstein's Mistakes," Ohanian presents a balanced narrative, offering a nuanced understanding of Einstein's intellectual journey. The book serves as a testament to the notion that even the greatest scientific minds are not infallible and points to the importance of embracing and learning from our mistakes.
Concise and thought-provoking, "Einstein's Mistakes" sheds light on the human side of scientific progress while paying homage to the genius and perseverance of Albert Einstein.
Share This Book 📚
More Books in Science
![Scale by Geoffrey West](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F1594205582.webp&w=384&q=75)
Scale
Geoffrey West
![Einstein by Walter Isaacson](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0743264738.webp&w=384&q=75)
Einstein
Walter Isaacson
![How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0735224153.webp&w=384&q=75)
How to Change Your Mind
Michael Pollan
![The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0312430000.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Checklist Manifesto
Atul Gawande
![When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F081298840X.webp&w=384&q=75)
When Breath Becomes Air
Paul Kalanithi
![Behave by Robert Sapolsky](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0143110918.webp&w=384&q=75)
Behave
Robert Sapolsky
![Who We Are and How We Got Here by David Reich](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F1101873469.webp&w=384&q=75)
Who We Are and How We Got Here
David Reich
![Genome by Matt Ridley](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2FB00AXXUA7C.webp&w=384&q=75)
Genome
Matt Ridley
![The Beginning Of Infinity by David Deutsch](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0670022756.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Beginning Of Infinity
David Deutsch
![The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind by Julian Jaynes](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0618057072.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind
Julian Jaynes
![The Pleasure of Finding Things Out by Richard P. Feynman](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0465023959.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out
Richard P. Feynman
![The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0198788606.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Selfish Gene
Richard Dawkins
![The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0226458113.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Thomas Kuhn
![I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0062368591.webp&w=384&q=75)
I Contain Multitudes
Ed Yong
![If The Universe Is Teeming With Aliens...Where Is Everybody? by Stephen Webb](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0387955011.webp&w=384&q=75)
If The Universe Is Teeming With Aliens...Where Is Everybody?
Stephen Webb
![Living Within Limits by Garrett Hardin](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2FB00UCC2U22.webp&w=384&q=75)
Living Within Limits
Garrett Hardin
![Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0143120530.webp&w=384&q=75)
Moonwalking with Einstein
Joshua Foer
![QED by Richard Feynman](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0691164096.webp&w=384&q=75)
QED
Richard Feynman
![Six Easy Pieces by Richard P. Feynman](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0465025277.webp&w=384&q=75)
Six Easy Pieces
Richard P. Feynman
![The Book of Why by Judea Pearl](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F046509760X.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Book of Why
Judea Pearl
![The Double Helix by James D. Watson Ph.D.](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F074321630X.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Double Helix
James D. Watson Ph.D.
![The Evolution of Everything by Matt Ridley](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0062296019.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Evolution of Everything
Matt Ridley
![The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F147673352X.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Gene
Siddhartha Mukherjee
![The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0618918248.webp&w=384&q=75)
The God Delusion
Richard Dawkins
![The Precipice by Toby Ord](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2FB07VB299G3.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Precipice
Toby Ord
![Thing Explainer by Randall Munroe](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0544668251.webp&w=384&q=75)
Thing Explainer
Randall Munroe
![What Do You Care What Other People Think? by Richard P. Feynman](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0393355640.webp&w=384&q=75)
What Do You Care What Other People Think?
Richard P. Feynman
![100 Plus by Sonia Arrison](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0465063764.webp&w=384&q=75)
100 Plus
Sonia Arrison
![A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0553380168.webp&w=384&q=75)
A Brief History of Time
Stephen Hawking
![A Cultural History of Physics by Karoly Simonyi](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2FB010WF2GZO.webp&w=384&q=75)
A Cultural History of Physics
Karoly Simonyi
Popular Books Recommended by Great Minds 📚
![Principles by Ray Dalio](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F1501124021.webp&w=384&q=75)
Principles
Ray Dalio
![Destined For War by Graham Allison](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0544935276.webp&w=384&q=75)
Destined For War
Graham Allison
![When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F081298840X.webp&w=384&q=75)
When Breath Becomes Air
Paul Kalanithi
![Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2FB0739PYQSS.webp&w=384&q=75)
Extreme Ownership
Jocko Willink
![How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0735224153.webp&w=384&q=75)
How to Change Your Mind
Michael Pollan
![Influence by Robert Cialdini](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2FB08RLT11Q3.webp&w=384&q=75)
Influence
Robert Cialdini
![Rework by Jason Fried](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0307463745.webp&w=384&q=75)
Rework
Jason Fried
![The Third Wave by Steve Case](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F150113258X.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Third Wave
Steve Case
![Behind the Cloud by Marc Benioff](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0470521163.webp&w=384&q=75)
Behind the Cloud
Marc Benioff
![The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0061452068.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Rational Optimist
Matt Ridley
![Hopping Over The Rabbit Hole by Anthony Scaramucci](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F1119116333.webp&w=384&q=75)
Hopping Over The Rabbit Hole
Anthony Scaramucci
![Measure What Matters by John Doerr](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0525536221.webp&w=384&q=75)
Measure What Matters
John Doerr
![Lying by Sam Harris](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F1940051002.webp&w=384&q=75)
Lying
Sam Harris
![Range by David Epstein](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0735214484.webp&w=384&q=75)
Range
David Epstein
![Who We Are and How We Got Here by David Reich](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F1101873469.webp&w=384&q=75)
Who We Are and How We Got Here
David Reich
![The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0735224919.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Coddling of the American Mind
Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt
![Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0812993012.webp&w=384&q=75)
Creativity, Inc.
Ed Catmull
![Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F1544512287.webp&w=384&q=75)
Can't Hurt Me
David Goggins
![Originals by Adam Grant](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F014312885X.webp&w=384&q=75)
Originals
Adam Grant
![Thinking In Bets by Annie Duke](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0735216355.webp&w=384&q=75)
Thinking In Bets
Annie Duke
![Scale by Geoffrey West](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F1594205582.webp&w=384&q=75)
Scale
Geoffrey West
![The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0857197681.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Psychology of Money
Morgan Housel
![The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F1400069289.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Power of Habit
Charles Duhigg
![Trailblazer by Marc Benioff](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F1984825194.webp&w=384&q=75)
Trailblazer
Marc Benioff
![The Outsiders by William Thorndike](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2FB00F3HEXEO.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Outsiders
William Thorndike
![The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2FB07DNPRTWX.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Intelligent Investor
Benjamin Graham
![The Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson & William Rees-Mogg](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0684832720.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Sovereign Individual
James Dale Davidson & William Rees-Mogg
![The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F1508475091.webp&w=384&q=75)
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
![Foundation by Isaac Asimov](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2FB01EFDEMS8.webp&w=384&q=75)
Foundation
Isaac Asimov
![Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2FbookCovers%2F0062300555.webp&w=384&q=75)
Hillbilly Elegy
J.D. Vance