5,0 su 5 stelle
The Revolution will not be on Facebook
Recensito negli Stati Uniti 🇺🇸 il 14 maggio 2017
What is a biography of a great man good for ? - in my case, as probably for many others, it is to look for clues to understand your own. Everyone can identify a part of himself in Einstein - he doesnt let himself be told anything - by his professors, his mother , or his wife - he finds (German) nationalism stupid, but stands up for Jewish nationalism not because he felt Jews were special, but because of a lifelong sympathy for the underdog,the oppressed. He flirts with socialism, but regards dogmas of both the right and the left as a threat to the freedom of the individual - sound familiar ?
The author, Evelyn Waugh, wrote that you were allowed anything about a man, if you were careful to include that he was successful with women. The 2017 National Geographic series, based on Isaacson's book is quite well done for the most part, introduces Einstein thrusting his attractive secretary against the chalk written equations on his blackboard- whatever you think of the value of the equations for humanity, for the Universe, please dont leave with the impression that Einstein didnt understand the true meaning of the Big Bang. Ok, this is what Ron Howard, thinks is important, but he does make up for it with the rest of the story - conveying Walter Isaacson's monumental biography of a man whom ( to borrow Einsteins' description of Gandhi) - may actually be more apt for himself:
Generations to come, it may be, will scarce believe, that one such as this, in flesh and blood, walked upon this Earth.
The stories of Einstein - portraits of a scientist as a young man - are particularly relevant - they show how a young man is formed by his environment, how free, bohemian friendships with other young men, his love of women, help him find his way in the world. He learns quickly as many scientists and artists do, to pivot their life to understanding some aspect of Nature, to lift themselves out of the 'narrow whirlpool of personal experience'
Oh yeah, by redefining our understanding of the very very large - the entire Universe held together by gravity, and the very small - the nature of the atom and light interacting with it - he may be the greatest scientist of all time. (yes, including Newton )
Isaacson's book and the Genius miniseries based on it , on the National Geographic Channel, conveys in particular what current and future generations must learn and remember from the example of Einstein - how the individual may find his way in an increasingly complicated world, where community and church no longer provide guidance - we learn how he was ridiculed not only by anti-Semites in Germany, but pursued by a highly suspicious American government (remember that class act - J Edgar Hoover, he went after Einstein in 1924, MLKing in 1964 - quite a career!).
An interesting irony is presented in Einsteins' friendship with Fritz Haber - a converted Jew, trying to fit into Prussian culture, and founder of the process to produce the fertilizer that feeds the billions around the world today that might of starved without it. Turns out Haber, against Einsteins' wishes, was not just a savior of humankind, but also the inventor of chemical warfare - personally supervising the gassing of French troops at Ypres in 1915. We, of course, mourn the one of darkest turns of humanity, when Germany turned against its Jews, using modern chemistry, to yes, kill lots of people quickly.
Einstein suggested that Jews, like all 'tribes', should not try to assimilate knee-jerk into German (or American) culture and gave early support for the formation of Israel by Weizmann - again it is clear that he was no nationalist, he cared not to dominate other peoples ( Israel's govt today take note) but believed fully in the right of individuals to express their individuality - this is why his discoveries may have defined the 20th century ( the atom bomb, the microchip, the laser) but his life showed the way for the individual in the 21st century.
it is not about how to be genius, that talent may be more innate that we admit, but how to be a human being, how to find ones' way in the modern world where so many ideas throng our imagination, so many opinions pester us for acceptance. How can we thrive, how to think for ourselves, without hurting others, create things and worlds for ourselves, without encroaching upon others? And how can we do this, not be one of 65 million people who voted for Trump, or even the 2000 million people who seek Likes for their posts on Facebook ?
If, as when told about '100 German scientists against Einstein', he retorted 'If I am wrong, ONE would have been enough' - for this alone, his life is worth reminding, as humanity may be plunging into another dark age.
11 persone l'hanno trovato utile
