Non-Fiction Book Reviews

Book Review: Einstein's Watch

By Sandy Amazeen Aug 4, 2010, 3:10 GMT

"A simple idea brilliantly executed. . . . Everything about this book is perfectly judged."-The Mail on Sunday"A perfect little stocking-filler."-The Times (London)Newspapers and magazines are never short of glossy images urging us what to aspire to. But what really are the world\'s most desirable possessions?What is the value of Gandhi\'s glasses or a collection of Braille editions of Playboy? And how much is an artwork consisting of ten million ...more

Touted as the “unofficial record of a year’s most ownable things” this slim volume lives up to the billing as it showcases the ordinary, like the Black Canary Barbie which sold for $40 along with a host of more eclectic items. These range from a pair of spectacles once owned by Mohandas K. Gandhi to an absence slip hastily scribbled by Barack Obama. Each listing includes a small color photograph with a short, general description that includes a smattering of historical significance along with the selling price. This engrossing collection emphases the items without resorting to sensationalism, choosing instead to let the pieces tell the story about what society places a value on.