God's Equation

Einstein, Relativity, and the Expanding Universe

By: Amir D. Aczel

Narrated by: Kent Broadhurst

Are we on the verge of solving the riddle of creation using Einstein's "greatest blunder"?

In a work that is at once lucid, exhilarating and profound, renowned mathematician Dr. Amir Aczel, critically acclaimed author of Fermat's Last Theorem, takes us into the heart of science's greatest mystery.

In January 1998, astronomers found evidence that the cosmos is expanding at an ever-increasing rate. The way we perceive the universe was changed forever. The most compelling theory cosmologists could find to explain this phenomenon was Einstein's cosmological constant, a theory he conceived--and rejected---over eighty years ago.

Drawing on newly discovered letters of Einstein--many translated here for the first time--years of research, and interviews with prominent mathematicians, cosmologists, physicists, and astronomers, Aczel takes us on a fascinating journey into "the strange geometry of space-time," and into the mind of a genius. Here the unthinkable becomes real: an infinite, ever-expanding, ever-accelerating universe whose only absolute is the speed of light.

Awesome in scope, thrilling in detail, God's Equation is storytelling at its finest.Executive Producer: Orli Moscowitz
Producer: Lisa Cahn
Jacket design: Julie Metz
Cover photo of Albert Einstein © Corbis-Bettmann
Author photo: Debra Aczel
©1999 Amir D. Aczel
(P)2000 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[Einstein's] field equation remains the closest thing we have to a divine blueprint for the universe....Aczel gives a very readable account of the science and the scientists involved."
-- Kirkus Reviews

"There is something startling on just about every page."
-- San Francisco Chronicle

"It is a wonderful time to glance back over Einstein's path in developing the field equation...fortunately, we have a fabulous guide in Amir D. Aczel."
-- Discover

Interesting, but a little like a history book

There is a lot of academic citation in this book, and the first 18 minutes are mostly spent thanking sundry people who helped with the book. Finding out how Einstein's theories were developed then proven is interesting, but the author does not have a gift for storytelling. Instead, he faithfully records the events, complete with the requisite names that have nothing to do with the story, but are acknowledged nonetheless. I would not buy this audiobook again. I wanted more theory and explanation and less formal writing.

Space -Time is so fascinating

The author, Amir Acel, took normally dry subjects, Relativity and Space-time, and made an engrossing read...thank you. I've had this book in my Audible library several years, but never had the time to listen to it. Kind'a glad I didn't. Now that I'm retired, I not only have the time to listen, but to ponder about what I'm hearing.

Some sections I listened to 3 times. Space -Time is so fascinating. I never thought about a star at the edge of an expanding universe, 13B light years away, that can never know about its neighbor star also 13B light years away, but diametrically opposed, making it actually 26B light years away. Since the universe is estimated to be <14B years old, still 12B years short.

Thinking about this more, Man will never reach other class M planets much beyond a few hundred light years, unless it is a huge ship capable of holding several human generations or a sleeper ship. Of course then there is the problem is calling home. A 100 light-year mission makes it difficult for a two-way conversation.

Another way is to bend space-time and worm holes (if they exist). But then this runs into several space-time paradoxes. That's OK, because Man likes challenges, and we only have <5B years, before our sun consumes us, to find another home. H-m-m-m, wonder what we will have evolved too.

History text

This book is more of a text on the history of Relativity rather than a science text. Mathematics is kept to a minimum and the reader in introduced to physical and cosmological concepts.

An interesting and well written/narrated book

"God's Equation" is first and foremost a very interesting book which I believe would suit anyone who is interested in physics, mathematics and/or history. It is somewhat of a light read though so if you want something really heavy on the mathematical side this is not the book for you. While it does mention some formulae it does mention very few. The author seems to have wanted to cover more about history than mathematics and the result is a much broader suitable audience. This was my first book by Amir D. Aczel, but it will not be the last. From start to finish the book kept me interested, and at times excited.

Clear exposition, Math included

I enjoyed the clear exposition of the basic concepts around relativity and how they were developed. For the neophyte the balance is well struck between accessible examples and meaningful mathematics. The terms are well explained, and hearing equations read is no more painful than having to read them - in fact somewhat less so. I also liked the intentional suspense (such as the stories of the eclipse expeditions) inserted into the narrative to give it a little more zing. We forget what those kind of expeditions entailed.

Yes, the narration is "dry" - but it seems appropriate for the text, and it added to the clarity.