RELATIVITY

This version of Einstein’s The Meaning of Relativity epitomizes the key difficulty with abridgments: The work becomes a slave to the format. Rather than an alluring example of literature or scholarship, this pivotal scientific work disintegrates into watered-down, cut-and-pasted facts and hypotheses. However, narrator Lopez-Morillas is excellent. With firm pacing and vocal confidence, he eases the listener through the jarring textual splices. His clarity of expression and diction are guiding lights that enable the listener to complete this audio journey. The technical quality of this audiobook is above average, and the choice of both topic and reader are solid. Perhaps this would be a better choice in unabridged form. J.S.G. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 98]