Alone Against Gravity

The book shows how far Einstein as a single researcher could reach and how he transformed from being a 'pure' scientist and an apolitical man into a politically engaged person and a pacifist by conviction. Berlin was the mecca of physics in the beginning of the 20th century. In April 1914 following an invitation initiated by Max Planck Walther Nernst Fritz Haber and the cr&egraveme de la cr&egraveme of Berlin's scientists the 35-year-old Einstein accepted a position at the prestigious Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences. Einstein wanted to take advantage of the academic freedom and the exchange of ideas in Berlin. His marriage was falling apart and he had recently fallen in love with his cousin Elsa Lowenthal who lived in Berlin. He looked forward to both factors of his new life there. Four months later Germany mobilized its army and the roaring voices of nationalism filled all the science centers. The outbreak of World War I suddenly changed the activities minds and relationshi