Rating: 
Summary: Relative to Einstein, by fermed
Review: The underlying structure of this book consists of the events surrounding a trip from Princeton NJ to Berkeley CA taken by Michael Peterniti (the author), an octogenarian pathologist called Thomas Harvey, and, in the trunk of their rented Buick Skylark, Albert Einstein's brain (suitably sliced, diced, wrapped in plastic and inside a Tupperware container filled with formaldehyde). The purpose of this trip is never clearly stated, and it may have had something to do with delvering the brain to Einstein's granddaughter, Evelyn; but although Evelyn does meet her grandfather's brain, she never takes possession of it, and the brain returns to Princeton via air travel and still under the curatorship of Dr. Harvey, the man who conducted the autopsy of Einstein back in 1955.Grotesque? Yes, there is that. When Einstein died there was a bit of a scramble for his body parts, and Dr. Harvey (allegedly with the permission of relatives and of Mr. A's executor) removed the brain and took it home with the intention of studying it; and the ophthalmologist who treated them took possession of Einstein's eyes, which are now in a safety deposit box of a Philadelphia bank. Other body parts may also have been removed by collectors, although officially Mr. Albert was cremated and his ashes tossed from a secret place into the Delaware river. The book spins an intricate web in which the facts about the trip are only a minor but coalescing force. Surreally related information, concerning body parts such as the foreskin of Christ, Budda's toenail, the penis of Napoleon (put up at auction in 1972), the skull of Hitler, the hearts of Chopin, Shelley and Byron, Lenin's brain (sliced into 31,000 parts) are played against a show-and-tell session with Einstein's brain in a California high school, against Las Vegas gambling tables, drunken nights with a mathematician in Japan, existential banter with an ailing William S. Burroughs, and a serious conversation with Evelyn Einstein, herself a former police woman, cult-deprogrammer, and insightful wearer of the Einstein name. A riot of textures, colors, settings, and flavors. The result? A riot of a book: funny, tragic, trivial and weighty all at once. The book leaves out a great deal: that the trip took place in 1997 is something that must be deduced, for the narrative is never anchored to time (very Einsteinian, of course) and thus we are often lost as to when some action took place; likewise, there is no mention of the financial arrangements involved in the trip. Who paid for the rental car and the travel expenses? In a book based on fact readers have the right to know about such things. Despite its underlying gruesomeness, its factual lacunae, its frequent narrative messiness and the unforgivable lack of an index, I highly recommend this book as a great and multilayered entertainment.
Rating: 
Summary: AN INSTANT CLASSIC
Review: I read about this book in Vanity Fair and Washington Post and bought it for a plane trip from D.C. to L.A. We landed as I read the last page. It's an all-consuming, miraculous journey full all kinds of strange Americana, brainiana, and Einsteiniana, and at its heart two men, one old and one young, who forge a remarkable friendship. This book reminded me of De Tocqueville, Hunter Thompson,and Dr. Seuss all at once. Impossible, unbelievable, and yet the most compelling thing I've read in years. From Einstein's secret FBI file to the author's ruminations on everything from love to death, a wonderful book!
Rating: 
Summary: Too Many Words
Review: I have waited for a book from Mr. Paterniti since I read the original article in Harper's Magazine 1997, but Mr. Albert is deeply disappointing. Given a book length format the author has the time and space to go on about his dwindling affair and his theories of love ("You lose each other and find each other again. Every day. Until love gathers the turtles and birds of your world and encompasses them, too."). He labors to draw clever parallels between his own life, Dr. Harvey's, Einstein's, and the laws of physics. There are gems to be found, but I'm not sure it's worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: Brain Jamming with the Alberts
Review: I don't know where to begin . . . a spectacular journey across America and through the mind and heart of a redoubtable writer with a singular voice and vision, and with two of the most unique characters as mates - Einstein as you have never known him before, hovering like a giant sun over the passengers carrying his brain, and Dr. Harvey, an eccentric, enigmatic real life Frank J. Parnell ("Ever heard of the neutron bomb?"). I heard about this book on The Connection on NPR and immediately went out, bought it, and read it in two nights. It was far better than I even expected. The juxtaposition of Einstein's lack of intimacy and personal relationships with the writer's own need for it, and fear of leaving it behind, permanently, as he drives down America's highways with an octagenerian and a genius's brain in the trunk. The details of Einstein's life that provide a picture of Einstein as person and demigod. The trip itself, including a quintessentially William S. Burroughs moment with Mr. Burroughs himself. Truly engrossing reading. Once in a great while, a book like this comes out and redeems my faith that authentic, fresh storytelling as artform is alive and well. Brain jam through the latest great american road trip. I can't reccommend it enough.
Rating:
Summary: Kerouac meets Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Review: I read this book in a single day, laughing out loud every few pages and ignoring incoming phonecalls, visitors, and mealtimes along the way--whatever might come between me and Driving Mr. Albert. It's a quirky, sweet, smart, and sometimes sad tale built on the backs of three great characters--Michael Paterniti, Dr. Harvey, and Einstein's brain. The writing is stunning straight through, Paterniti's reflections on life and love belong in Bartlett's, and the mad trio's visits to Los Alamos, Vegas, and William S. Burroughs poise this book as the 21st century version of On The Road. A thrilling, fun read... I can't recommend it more.
Rating: 
Summary: Great premise...mediocre story
Review: Oh, I love the IDEA of this book so much more than I actually loved the book. Albert Einstein's brain is in a tupperware bowl and it is being driven across the country by a journalist. The man who performed Einstein's autopsy kept his brain, and Paterniti is helping Harvey to return the brain to Einstein's granddaughter, who is somewhat perplexed by the whole thing. It's a true story which makes it even better. Still, it was a decent summer read, and had many people commenting while I read it. I just was not so thrilled with the final product...I'm not sure if Paterniti wasn't able to tell the story so well because he was IN it, or if this is just his writing style...I wasn't in love with it. However, I do still treasure the premise, I managed to read the entire book, and I learned things, so it wasn't all bad.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable - don't believe the hype!
Review: In reading the customer reviews, as well as talking about this book with others, I'm suprised at the amount of negative reactions this book has ignited. A professor commented that Paterniti is one of the worst non-fiction writers of our time. A friend lamented that this book would have made an excellent essay, trimming the fat so to speak (it actually was an article). But I love it. I received this book for Christmas, not knowing anything about it. And I've been happily pleased with it. While the story itself is unique and interesting, I enjoyed the interspersed biographical material on Einstein. Are there better sources for this information? Likely. But the way these bits are interwoven into Paternity's cross-country journey are quite fitting. Another common complaint about this book is the personal subplot of Paterniti's life. I rather enjoy that as well, to be honest. His homesickness, frustration, and anxiety of aging provide a nice addition to the Einstein backdrop. My only complaint is that, at times, it seems as though Paterniti is trying to hard. Not in a pretentious manner, but he just seems to strain himself to write on occasion. But not so much as to turn me off from his work. Overall, a great work of modern American non-fiction.
Rating:
Summary: The relativity of reviewing
Review: This is a book about a writer, a scientist who has Einstein's brain, and the trip they take across the country. That is like saying Moby Dick is about a whale. This is one of the great books I have read in a long time. That of course is relative, because it is my opinion. It is all relative...and that is what this amazing book is about for me. Alot of reviews and readers seem to think this book is quirky and eccentric. I happen to think it is a very clear piece which resonated with me for a long time. When reviews comment about this book not being a travel book, or a biography or this or that...I think it is brilliant because it ties all those threads together. I think that it boldly makes connections. I frankly do not know what you as a reader will think of this book. My sister in law loved it but thought it was fiction. I loved it and thought it was fact. And truthfully I love books that leave me to wander in the universe a little. Some people want conclusion. I don't think life concludes. I can only say that this book left me spinning in a universe of science, love, fate, Vegas, diners, Concrete Garden of Edens, destiny and hot tubs. I feel like a portal of the universe was open when I read this...and I will probably never look at things the same. You might sell the book for fifty cents.
It's all relative I will say this....if you know nothing about Einsein, you may learn a little something. If you haven't thought about the power of science, the joys of life, our place in a swirling mass of gases....you might....
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