The letters themselves take up only 110 pages out of this 230 page book. At first I was disappointed and felt jipped that less than half of this collection of letters was actually letters. But the forward, preface, and especially the short biographies, were helpful, and pleasing. They weren't just boring facts that were crammed in to give it more pages.
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As I scanned through the book just after I got it, I also felt kind of ripped off that most of the letters are letters from the children. Professor Einstein only replies to a handful of his fan-mail and often in short replies (with a few exceptions). But it's not always about the reply. The un-replied letters only further show what a superstar Einstein was, and still is. With numerous little notes that nominated him for president of little school science clubs and a lot of kids who just wanted his autograph.
Did he enjoy those letters of presidency and autograph requests? If they ever got to him, I can't see how he wasn't delighted. He seemed though, to have a respect for children who were thinkers. The book contains his replies to letters that asked real science questions. He replied to foreign girls who tried their best to write in English. He replied to young students who wrote to him about identifying the stars in the sky. There's even a letter from a grieving father, to which he gives an awkwardly blunt reply.
His reply to all the children who sent him get well letters is touching, both because of the reply itself, and because of the fact of all the people who admired him.
The review of this Book prepared by Sean Blair
