“A fascinating and funny guide to history’s favorite genius – and why he still matters.”
– A.J. Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author
The Einstein Effect
How the World's Favorite Genius Got into Our Cars, Our Bathrooms, and Our Minds
by Benyamin Cohen
Order your copy
Praise from Mandy Patinkin – actor, singer, activist
“I’ve tried to read other books about Einstein, but I never finished them. Benyamin has a tremendous sense of humor, and he displays it in the telling of our universal connection to one of the greatest gifts to humanity, Albert Einstein. I promise, if you pick up this book, you’ll never want to put it down.”
Praise for The Einstein Effect
"A fascinating and funny guide to history's favorite genius ― and why he still matters."
A.J. Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author
About the book
The next time you have a pizza delivered to your home, thank Einstein.
(Courtesy Stonemask Studio)
Albert Einstein was the first modern-day celebrity and, decades after his death, still has the world's most recognizable face. His influence is seen in much of the technology we use every day: GPS, remote controls, weather forecasts, even toothpaste. But it's not just his scientific discoveries that continue to shape our world. His legacy underpins the search for aliens, the rescue of refugees, the invention of time machines and the debunking of fake news. He appears in new books, TV shows and movies – and fans are paying millions for Einstein relics at auction.
Award-winning author and journalist Benyamin Cohen has a bizarre side hustle as the manager of Einstein's official social media accounts, which have 20 million followers―more than most living celebrities. (Einstein has more facebook fans than Tom Hanks!) He embarks on a global quest to unearth Einstein ongoing relevance today. Along the way, he meets scientists and celebrities, speaks to dozens with the last name Einstein (including two rabbis), and even tracks down the brain of Einstein, stolen from his body during the autopsy. Cohen shows us the myriad ways the Nobel Prize winner's influence is still with us, giving an in-depth – and often hilarious – look at the world's favorite genius like you've never seen him before.
A portion of the royalties from the book will be donated to the Albert Einstein Archives.
About the author
Benyamin Cohen
Benyamin Cohen manages the official social media accounts of Albert Einstein. He is the News Director of the Forward and was the founding editor of both Jewsweek and American Jewish Life magazine. Cohen is also the author of My Jesus Year: A Rabbi’s Son Wanders the Bible Belt in Search of His Own Faith (HarperCollins), named one of the best books of the year by Publishers Weekly and for which he received the Georgia Author of the Year award. He is based in Morgantown, West Virginia, where he lives with his wife, three dogs and a flock of chickens known as the Co-Hens. For more, visit www.benyamincohen.com.
(Photo by Shoshi Benstein)
Videos
Benyamin tells you what's in the book – in under two minutes.
Actor and activist Mandy Patinkin on why he's in the book.
Benyamin reveals a few things you may not have known about Albert Einstein.
The doctor who performed Einstein's autopsy stole the brain. Nearly 70 years later, Benyamin tracked it down and found it.
Einstein's 'Miracle Year' laid the groundwork for GPS technology, remote controls ... and better shampoo.
Videos
Benyamin tells you what's in the book – in under two minutes.
Actor and activist Mandy Patinkin on why he's in the book.
Benyamin reveals a few things you may not have known about Albert Einstein.
The doctor who performed Einstein's autopsy stole the brain. Nearly 70 years later, Benyamin tracked it down and found it.
Einstein's 'Miracle Year' laid the groundwork for GPS technology, remote controls ... and better shampoo.
Einstein's head, and Einstein's heart: A speech Benyamin gave in Israel.
"The Einstein Effect" visits the Einstein Archives
Watch Benyamin deliver a 45-minute talk about the book.
Events
PREVIOUS EVENTS
Stamford, CT
Morgantown, WV
New York, NY
Scotch Plains, NJ
Pittsburgh, PA
Houston, TX
Atlanta, GA
Virginia Beach, VA
Detroit, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Los Angeles, CA
St. Louis, MO
Livingston, NJ
Palm Springs, CA
Fort Myers, FL
Pittsfield, MA
Somerset, NJ
Sarasota, FL
Cambridge, MA
Hingham, MA
Dayton, OH
New York, NY
Delray Beach, FL
Naples, FL
Lancaster, PA
Winnipeg, Canada
Columbus, OH
Palo Alto, CA
Monroe, NJ
New York, NY
Princeton, NJ
Falls Village, CT
Ashkelon, Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Beit Shemesh, Israel
Kansas City, MO
Elkins Park, PA
Albuquerque, NM
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sep. 29, 2024 / Tampa, FL
JCC and Jewish Federation
5:00 p.m.
Oct. 28, 2024 / Miami, FL
Various local JCCs
3:30 p.m.
(Zoom event)
Nov. 2, 2024 / Indianapolis, IN
JCC of Indianapolis
7:30 p.m.
Nov. 5, 2024 / Cherry Hill, NJ
Katz Jewish Community Center
10:00 a.m.
Nov. 14, 2024 / Rockville, MD
Bender JCC of Greater Washington
7:00 p.m.
Jan. 12, 2025 / Highland Park, IL
Makom Solel Lakeside
10:00 a.m.
(Zoom event)
Jan. 13, 2025 / Dresher, PA
Temple Sinai
7:30 p.m.
(Zoom event)
Feb. 20, 2025 / Durham, NC
Levin JCC
7:30 p.m.
(Zoom event)
Mar. 18, 2025 / Princeton, NJ
The Nassau Club
12:00 p.m.
May 8, 2025 / Toronto, ON
Temple Sinai Congregation
7:15 p.m.
(Zoom event)
Contact
Representation:
Also by Benyamin Cohen:
My Jesus Year: A Rabbi's Son Wanders the Bible Belt in Search of His Own Faith
More about Benyamin Cohen: