lightning strikes twice

Einstein’s Clocks, Poincare’s Maps – Peter Galison

This is a history of how the theory of relativity was developed. It demonstrates how the development of the ideas was not linear, but rather a collision of ideas from practical (time coordination and longitude) and theoretical (simultaneity) realms.

There were also significant social and cultural influences, such as the need for coordinated time in the era of extensive rail expansion, and the empirical desires of France and Britain.

Poincare and Einstein had similar ideas, and a great if not grudging respect for each other. This book mentions how this respect developed despite their generational gap and their philosophical differences.

Other topics:

• detailed outline of Poincare’s path from the French Polytechnique to the variety of distinguished public offices he held, such as the head position at the Bureau of Longitude.
• brief outline of Einstein’s passage from university to the patent office.