Once upon Einstein

This fascinating read accompanies Einstein through his life and his scientific work, and reminds us of the day- to-day applications of his ideas: from the principle behind the laser to the dispersion of aerosols in the atmosphere and the satellites of the global positioning system. Through a selection of scenes from Einstein's life, Once Upon Einstein involves the reader in the formation of his theories. It also leads us through a meditation of their philosophical impacts by asking and reflecting on important questions: How should we think of time according to the theory of relativity, which removes any meaningful "now"? How should we think of reality when quantum theory predicts that spatially separated objects nevertheless remain connected?

Thibault Damour is a permanent member of the Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques (Institute of Advanced Studies) in France and a member of the French Academy of Science. A theoretical physicist, he is known worldwide for his innovative work on black holes, pulsars, gravitational waves, and string theory. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Einstein medal.