Einstein

[AC]

I'm beginning to read the biography by Walter Isaacson of the man who is probably the most important person of the 20th Century. When you mention his name, it simply conjures up the definition of genius..i.e. "He's no Einstein". I'm attaching the exerpt from Time and just read for a few minutes quietly and let his thoughts just sink in. It's a book you have to read and put down for a while and just be amazed at how genius developes and how it processes ideas and thoughts. It's hard to imagine how his mind worked, but, as the expression goes, I'm no Einstein.

Enjoy,

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1607298-1,00.html

[BFSpin]

Thanks for the link, AC - somehow I missed this post til today.

I had that book in my hands a few weeks ago; think I'll have to make a trip to Border's.

Interesting point: my son, 11, did a book report on Einstein this past school year, using kid-level references. He's fascinated by him and many points in his life. My son has Asperger's; and I only found out later that there is some serious, scientific evidence that Einstein (as well as Isaac Newton) would have solidly fit the diagnostic criteria for Asperger's Syndrome. If you're familiar with Asperger's kids, they tend to "get" each other and communicate on a different plane. In a way, my son "gets" Einstein.

Beth

[AC]

Einstein didn't start speaking until he was 2 years old. In his early years his parents thought he had some retardation. His high school science teacher told him he'd never amount to anything.

Einstein is the poster boy for slow learners. Never lower your expectations.

[joyofspin]

I just ordered it and it's on its way from Amazon. Thanks for the recommendation.

[like2bike]

Thanks for the link, AC - somehow I missed this post til today.

I had that book in my hands a few weeks ago; think I'll have to make a trip to Border's.

Interesting point: my son, 11, did a book report on Einstein this past school year, using kid-level references. He's fascinated by him and many points in his life. My son has Asperger's; and I only found out later that there is some serious, scientific evidence that Einstein (as well as Isaac Newton) would have solidly fit the diagnostic criteria for Asperger's Syndrome. If you're familiar with Asperger's kids, they tend to "get" each other and communicate on a different plane. In a way, my son "gets" Einstein.

Beth

Beth I had never heard of Asperger's Syndrome until I read your post. I've done a little reading about it and now have a better understanding of what it is. Thank you for helping to enlighten me. Your son is a very special young man.

[BFSpin]

Beth I had never heard of Asperger's Syndrome until I read your post. I've done a little reading about it and now have a better understanding of what it is. Thank you for helping to enlighten me. Your son is a very special young man.

Thanks for your kind words! He is a pretty cool kid. . .talks incessantly about all sorts of things (a stream of consciousness approach to things). He may be able to help you with your mockingbird problem!

Yesterday we spent the day with my sister and her kids, in from Calif. for a couple of days. My sister's 17-year-old son has Asperger's as well, with some different variants from my son's. The two of them haven't seen each other in over 2 years. . . but immediately had this amazing mind-meld thing going on. While the syndrome does have its challenges, at 11 years old his is an utterly honest, pure approach to the world.

While we may not have an Einsten in the house, we are blessed with a boy who sees the world on his own pure terms, who remembers absolutely everything that goes into his brain (good and not-so-good . . . "Mom, remember that time on March 23rd 2005 when you said {insert naughty word}? Was that a bad thing for you to say?") Seriously.

So I ride. . . :smile:

Thanks again for looking into this a bit - it really means something to me.

Beth