Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Introduction to the Theory of Relativity
Review: So, Einstein, you think you know everything, huh? (Then you should sit in on my physics class, because we could use someone who knows what's going on.) But enough joking...Unlike most perceptions of scientific writing, Bodanis tackles a fascinating topic with vigor, interest, and enthusiasm: It shows. This is perhaps the most suitable starting-off point -- or even for a seasoned physics verteran -- to learn about the progression of science, leading up to (and including) the "world's most famous equation."I read this book before taking any physics courses, and before taking an intermediate chemistry course. In other words, I had literally no science background to speak of, other than a few high school courses and my own interest. I received this book as a gift, and was immediately enthralled. Needless to say, this is one of the few books that has joined the ranks of being re-read a few times. Bodanis, in this book, follows the progression of what eventually leads Einstein to develop his special theory of relativity, or - as us plebians may know it - E = MC ^ 2. Rather than dwelling on this equation itself, Bodanis instead takes the readers through the history leading up to (and including) this equation. He discusses the scientific work of Lavoisier, Voltaire, and other scientists throughout the scientific englightenment, throwing in clever anectdotes and genuine scientific information. Bodanis includes the relevant information -- relaying to the reader how, exactly, each scientific finding influenced Einstein's later discoveries. However, this is all done without being stodgy or boring -- there is the proper amount of wit and enthusiasm, making this a most enjoyable read. The other aspect of this book which I enjoyed immensely was the articulation of world events, however superficially. When Einstein had developed his theory of relativity, and was teaching in Germany and Austria, he eventually fled. Bodanis does not ignore the importance of the German scientist exodus during World War II. He ties together loose ends, and makes this book into more than just an equation: He shows how the scientific community was impacted, and the scenario that built up to the development of the theory of relativity. All said, this is an exciting romp through something which is generally, er...not seen as so exciting. For those interested in scientific history, fact, theory, or even science's impact on the world -- this book is sure to be enjoyed. There is an incredibly broad reader base that will enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Vivid, readable and compelling
Review: This is science history framed as a biography about Albert Einstein's famous equation, and an especially good read. Bodanis begins with Einstein in the Bern Patent Office in 1905, and then goes back in time to examine each of the elements in Einstein's equation in turn, starting with energy, followed by the equals sign, then mass, and then the speed of light (where I learned that the "c" is for "celeritas," from the Latin for "swiftness" and not for centimeters--silly me, I always thought "c" represented the speed of light in centimeters!) and finally, squared. There are a number of stories woven into the narrative beginning with the story of Michael Faraday, who demonstrated the link between electricity and magnetism, and his mentor Humphrey Davy who tried to steal the priority from him. Other stories include that of Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier whose fanatical insistence on exacting measurements led the world to the realization of the conservation of energy, a man who received his thanks by being beheaded during the French Revolution. And there is that of Ole Roemer, who with the help of Jupiter's satellite Io, was able to calculate the speed of light (despite denials from an embarrassed Jean-Dominique Cassini, who believed that light propagated instantaneously). There is the tale of Emilie du Chatelet, beloved of Voltaire, who persuaded everyone that Leibniz was right, that energy equals mass times velocity squared, not simply mass times velocity as Newton had it. Bodanis recalls how she became with child at age forty and feared for her life because the "Doctors of the time had no awareness that they should wash their hands or instruments." She gave birth but died of an infection a week later. The biography reaches its climax in the Manhattan Project. Bodanis gives a short but compelling story about how J. Robert Oppenheimer guided the US project to success, and a corresponding story about how the German effort under the direction of Werner Heisenberg failed. Along the way we get glimpses of other scientists involved in nuclear energy and radioactivity, including Ernest Rutherford, Enrico Fermi, James Chadwick, Lise Meitner, Otto Hahn, Arthur Stanley Eddington and others. Fred Hoyle makes an appearance as does Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. Bodanis paints some of the scientists in a most unflattering light, especially Hahn and Heisenberg, while glorifying others, notably Meitner, Chandra and Fermi. His sketch of Oppenheimer is balanced and vivid. Bodanis has the gift of making everything interesting, especially the personalities, but also the science itself. His description of the atomic bombs that were dropped on the Japanese cities and how they worked makes for compelling reading. In the Chapter "America's Turn" I learned that not everybody in the Allied Command agreed with Truman's decision to use the bomb: "Even Eisenhower, who'd had no qualms about killing thousands of opponents when it was necessary to safeguard his troops, was strongly hostile to it..." (p. 161). Some of the most interesting writing is in the footnotes, beginning on page 237. Here I found a most elegant digression on the Uncertainty Principle (pp. 273-74). And on page 280, Bodanis makes a vivid distinction between the naked properties of U238 (fifty pounds together are warm to the touch) and U235 (fifty pounds together leave a crater). And on page 275 he recalls the use of female slaves by the Germans during WWII: "...the I. G. Farben combine purchased 150 women from the Oswiecim [Auschwitz] concentration camp, after complaining about a price of 200 marks (then $80.00) each, and killed all of them in experiments with a soporific drug." A number of black and white prints complement and enhance the text; an appendix, "Follow-up of Other Key Participants" shines more light on the scientists; and there is a useful 18-page "Guide to Further Reading" following the notes. This is an informative excursion into the history of science made truly delectable by a gifted writer.
Rating: 
Summary: enjoyable read
Review: Bodanis personalizes the famous equation so that even i could understand its significance. Bodanis tells personal stories of famous characters associated with the equation including WWII secret missions and anti-semitism. Bodanis does a good job making the equation understandable.
Rating:
Summary: It Doesn't Really "Matter"
Review: I liked this book. Having read it I believe that I have a better basic understanding of Einstein's formula than I possessed prior to the time I purchased it. I realize that I am not ready nor prepared to enroll at Cambridge or Harvard seeking a doctorate in Quantum Mechanics, but I'm glad I read this book. The critical reviews of this book posted by many experts miss the point. David Bodanis has provided the target reader with basic generalizations about Einstein's equation in a manner designed not as a definitive textbook but as an introduction to some of the basic concepts of physics. Even more importantly he has done so by using a method specifically designed to be understood by the generalists among us. Rather than dull our senses with elongated mathematical equations, David Bodanis describes these physics concepts in human terms; by telling biographical stories, through analogy and by breathing real life into a mathematical equation. As a target reader of this book, I seek a basic understanding not a Nobel Prize in physics. Even if the explanations are in places a bit technically inaccurate David Bodanis efforts are worthy of great praise and worthy of your time. For those who criticize the technical accuracy of this book, I am comforted by the fact that once Einstein's formula has run its physical course in the absolute stillness of a silenced universe it will not "matter."
Rating:
Summary: Top Noch Book!
Review: This is the first book I have ever read that explains the equation E=MC2 without giving a mathematical explanation, meaning literally anyone can understand it completely. The book is interesting and provides a superb understanding of what the true significance of that powerful equation is and the supreme precience, intelligence and independence of Einstein when he thought of it in 1905. My only critical comments about the book are on page 161 where he said of President Truman's advisor Jimmy Byrnes: "It was Byrnes who ensured that the clause protecting the emperor (Hirohito of Japan) which might mollify Japanese opponents of a settlement-was taken out." There is a book by Herbert P. Bix, HIROHITO AND THE MAKING OF MODERN JAPAN and Mr. Bodanis' reference to Jimmy Byrnes is never mentioned. That book is probably one of the best researched books ever written. Said another way, Mr. Bodanis states the two nuclear bombs droped on Japan during the final days of the Second World War should never have been droped and it was Byrnes' fault for refusing to mollify the Japanese that they were dropped. Read HIROHITO AND THE MAKING OF MODERN JAPAN it was far more complicated than Mr. Bodanis' canned liberal view. Having said that, however, I literally could not put this book down. I wanted to find out as much as I could in about the equation and its development. The book is very easy and quick to read even though one might think a book about an equation could be otherwise. If you want to really understand what our universe is about and how all matter comes into being, read this book. Even those of you that have zero-point-zero understanding of science and math (me), this book has the uncanny ability to describe everything with extreme clarity. I wish Mr. Bodanis would write a similar book about Quantum Mechanics!!
Rating:
Summary: Transforming human mass into energy for good
Review: It is easy to think of technology in the context of hard science and with the intellect. Bodanis gives lay readers an appropriate level of insight about how math and science evolved through several hundred years to propel our species toward the elegant equation that changed the world. This historical journey enlivens many forgotten but critical thinkers who made it possible for a restive patent clerk to make the essential creative leap into the intellectual unknown. But this book accomplishes something else, even greater. The author's brilliant chapter describing in micro-second details the detonation of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima creates a powerful, sobering perspective of this fearsome technology and dispassionately reminds all of us of the threats looming. The author uses his beloved science to bring into searing perspective the human face of thermonuclear war. The power to manipulate the atom has the capacity for good in medicine and other human advancements, but it is also a power capable of planetary destruction. It is wise for lay readers to understand E=MC2 beyond science. Our survival is at stake.
Rating:
Summary: E=mc2 an exelent book
Review: E=MC2 is an excellent book describing Einstein's famous equation, the equation that has changed the whole world. The book begins by describing each letter in the equation starting with E; the E in the equation stands for energy. The M in the equation stands for mass, and the C2 in the equation stands for the speed of light, (which is approximately 670,000,000 mph) and C2 which is 670,000,000 x 670,000,000, which is (approximately 448,900,000,000,000,000 mph).
In 1905, Albert Einstein found out that mass times the speed of light squared equals the amount of energy within an object. In other words mass is energy and energy is mass, just in a different form. This means that if you have a ball of mass, it is really a ball of energy and vice versa. An example of E=MC2 in use can be found in a smoke alarm were there is usually a small piece of americium, a radioactive material that turns it's own mass in to usable energy for the smoke alarm. This lets the smoke alarm operate for weeks without running low on batteries. The equation was also used to make the devastating atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, and is used in several medical devices today.
After the book describes how the equation works and what it means it goes into greater depth describing how the equation has changed our world. It includes a chapter on Norway and the heavy water plant that almost enabled the Germans to make an atomic bomb in WWII, and includes some extremely interesting facts about black holes and the future of our universe. The book also gives lots of information about pioneering scientists including Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, who discovered black holes, Michael Faraday who played a big role in discovering the relationship between electricity and magnetism, and of course Albert Einstein who discovered the E=MC2 equation. These are only a few of the scientists covered in the book.
I think this is an incredible book filled with interesting information, well written, easy to read.
Rating:
Summary: You don't have to be Einstein
Review: Not having a background in science myself, I found this book to be informative and quite absorbing. I grew up with constant references to "E=MC2" but never knew what it was all about. The quotation sounded smart, I never felt smart enough to understand it, so I have obliviously gone through my life not knowing what all the fuss was about. Mr Bodanis book is written for those of us who don't have a scientific clue. It was easy for me to follow, and all the background historical information helped to support the core story of the theory of relativity. Give it a chance...it is not for science "snobs".
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good book
Review: Instead of writing yet another book about Albert Einstein, Bodanis wrote about his equation. Although a biography of an equations seems far fetched, Bodanis accomplishes it by introducing the viewer to the scientists who provided the parts of the equation (the e, =, m, c, and 2). By delving into the lives of the men and women who made the equation what it is, Bodanis draws the reader into the story, making it not yet another dry physics book. A minus: the book itself is only 200 pages, but it contains 100 additional pages of notes on the text.
Rating: 
Summary: yet another pop-science book
Review: The evilness of pop-science is that they give readers who
don't know better a feeling that they have learned something
when they haven't. This book is no exception. The book
claims to detail each expression in the equation to help
readers understand it. If the reader experiences a sense
of understanding, I feel sorry for them for they
are misguided. For example,
Bodanis illustrates that the equal sign can be used
to mean "is equal to" but also "is a consequence of".
He points out the difference between the two but throughout
the rest of the book uses the two definitions interchangeably.
He explanation the "squared" part of the equation
illustrates to me that Bodanis doesn't know the relationship
between velocity and acceleration. I also doubt
he knows the differences between velocity
momentum, force and energy. He claims nothing
can go faster than light, but
gives no rational explanation. It's just because.
I call this dogma, as opposed to explanation. That said, I enjoyed the historical antecdotes in the book
but they didn't really have anything to do with the equation.
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