Driving Mr. Albert: a trip across America with Einsteins brain, by Michael Paterniti. A very bizarre and occasionally intriguing story. Ill admit right up front that I had no idea Einsteins brain was anywhere but either with the rest of his body or in a research lab. But no, when Einsteins body was autopsied in 1955 the pathologist in charge, Dr. Thomas Harvey, removed the brain and took it home, where he kept it in a sealed Tupperware bowl full of formaldehyde for over 40 years. And he was not the only one to make off with bits of the late, great man. A Dr. Henry Abrams removed Einsteins eyes and, according to this book, keeps them in a safe, taking them out once or twice a year just to look at them. Yeah, I think its creepy too. Back to the brain. Harvey claimed that he had the OK from Einsteins estate to keep the brain and do research on it, except that the lawyer who handled the estate denies this and Harvey did precious little research himself, and never published a paper on what he did do. Nor did he release the brain to many others planning serious research -- instead he kept it in his garage, occasionally giving out chunks of the brain to various people who asked, some of them scientists but some just fan geeks wanting a souvenir. Harveys behavior was so erratic that I have serious doubts about *his* brain. In any case, at one point he decided to turn the remaining chunks of the brain over to Einsteins granddaughter, Evelyn. Thats right, Evelyn Einstein. This despite the fact that Evelyn didnt want it. The author, Michael Paterniti, offered to drive Harvey from his home in New Jersey to Evelyns home in San Francisco, and that journey is mostly what this book is about. At the end of the four thousand mile trip, Harvey spent only 30 minutes in Evelyns company and did not give her the brain, but did leave it in the back of Paternitis car after parting company with them to go visit his brother in San Mateo. Since Evelyn still didnt want it, Paterniti returned the brain to Harvey when they met up again and he went back to New Jersey with it, finally releasing the brain a year later to the senior pathologist at Princeton Hospital. End of weird story. As a look at one of historys bizarre little left turns, its interesting enough, and Paternitis writing is serviceable except for patches when he tries to be lyrical and only manages to be blowsy. I dont regret the time spent reading it, but its not a book Im going to keep. Reading now: Mennonite Meets Mr. Right, by Rhoda Janzen
Posted on: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 11:04:13 +0000
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