What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedEinstein
Walter Isaacson · Book · 2017
If you loved Einstein, start with Genius (Kenneth Biller, 2017) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 2 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Einstein across media.
What hooked you in Einstein was the way the immense weight of scientific history becomes an deeply intimate human portrait.
Films on the same thread
Oppenheimer
Film · 2023
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Scientific ethics, Cold War paranoia.
Like the subject of Einstein, this film explores the heavy intersection of scientific ethics and global consequence, examining the moral burden carried by those who reshape our physical world.
Schindler's List
Steven Spielberg · Film · 1993
Explores: Survival, Moral Courage, Dehumanization.
While Einstein changed the way we understand physics, this film mirrors the gravity of 20th-century history, focusing on the profound moral courage required to act within a collapsing society.
The Theory of Everything
James Marsh · Film · 2014
Explores: Love and adversity, Triumph over adversity, Scientific genius.
This film provides the same intimate look at a brilliant mind that you found in Einstein, balancing the weight of groundbreaking scientific discovery with the complexities of personal life.
A Complete Unknown
James Mangold · Film · 2024
Explores: Musical Genius, Cultural Revolution, Artistic Discovery.
Much like the titular figure in Einstein, this story captures the transformative power of an individual whose unique perspective and revolutionary talent irrevocably alter the landscape of their era.
Series on the same thread
Genius
Kenneth Biller · Series · 2017
Explores: Biographical, Intellectualism, Struggle for Recognition.
If you enjoyed the comprehensive look at a genius provided in Einstein, this series expands that scope to examine the struggles and obsessions defining history’s most brilliant intellectual minds.
Benjamin Franklin
Series · 2022
Shares a thread with Einstein: Scientific Discovery.
Just as Einstein chronicled the life of a scientific icon, this series explores the innovation and historical impact of a founding figure whose curiosity helped define the modern world.
Podcasts on the same thread
How I Built This with Guy Raz
Guy Raz | Wondery · Podcast · 2026
Explores: failure and resilience, innovation processes, corporate origin stories.
This podcast echoes the exploration of innovation found in Einstein, offering a deep dive into the moments of failure and resilience that underpin the success of influential modern figures.
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe · Podcast · 2026
Explores: untold historical anecdotes, curiosity-driven learning, American cultural history.
For those captivated by the biographical richness of Einstein, these stories provide a similar curiosity-driven look into the obscure lives and events that shape our collective historical narrative.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Einstein by Walter Isaacson considered a complete biography?
Yes, Einstein is the first full biography of the physicist published since all of his personal papers became available. Walter Isaacson utilizes these primary documents to create a fully realized portrait of Einstein as a premier icon of his era.
Does Einstein by Walter Isaacson include previously restricted documents?
Yes, this 2017 biography is notable for being the first comprehensive account written after the release of all of Einstein's papers. By incorporating these previously unavailable materials, Isaacson provides a deeper and more thorough examination of Einstein's life and work than previous biographers could achieve.
Who is the author of the 2017 biography Einstein?
The book Einstein was written by Walter Isaacson. Isaacson is also known for writing other notable biographical works, including his bestselling book about Benjamin Franklin, before turning his attention to this detailed study of the life and legacy of Albert Einstein.
What is the focus of the book Einstein by Walter Isaacson?
Einstein focuses on providing a fully realized portrait of the physicist. By drawing on newly available papers, Isaacson explores the life and influence of Einstein, framing him as a premier icon of his era through a comprehensive biographical lens.