At a moment of great discovery, one Big Idea can change the world...E = mc2 is the world's most famous equation, but what does it mean and why were Einstein's theories so groundbreaking? Einstein's revolutionary papers on his Theories of Relativity changed mankind's view of the world and universe forever, establishing him as one of our greatest scientific minds - but when he died, he considered himself a failure. "Einstein & Relativity" tells the gripping story of Einstein's early life (in which he failed all subjects except maths and physics) through to his most important research. After publishing his two innovative Theories of Relativity, he then wasted over two decades searching for a comprehensive theory, in contradiction to his previous work. "The Big Idea: Einstein & Relativity" is accessible and absorbing, placing Einstein's life and work into the context of science up-to that point and distilling his complex theories into bite-size pieces for anyone and everyone. "The Big Idea" series is a fascinating look at the greatest advances in our scientific history, and at the men and women who made these fundamental breakthroughs.

Paul Strathern was born in London and studied philosophy at Trinity College, Dublin. He was a lecturer at Kingston University where he taught philosophy and mathematics. He is a Somerset Maugham prize-winning novelist of A Season in Abyssinia, as well as four other novels. He is also the author of the Philosophers in 90 Minutes series.He wrote Mendeleyev's Dream which was shortlisted for the Aventis Science Book Prize, Dr. Strangelove's Game: A History of Economic Genius, The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance, Napoleon in Egypt and most recently, The Artist, The Philosopher and The Warrior, which details the convergence of three of Renaissance Italy's most brilliant minds: Leonardo Da Vinci, Niccolo Machiavelli and Cesare Borgia. He lives in London and has three grandchildren.