Great Lives in Graphics
Button books £9.99 ISBN 978-1-78708-1212-5
This is the latest in the ‘Great Lives in Graphics’ series and looks at one of the most recognisable faces in history and someone who has left an indelible mark on our psyche. This latest version makes his life very accessible and is a great primer for those in school, and indeed it is a surprise to find out that he was expelled from one school, but the cream always rises to the top.
Nothing is too difficult and the ideas of relativity and even Schrodingers cat are explained via simple graphics. It certainly isn’t chronological although the dissection of his brain after death is close to the end. Scattered throughout are topics such as his pacifism and yet his link to all things atomic, and why roots grow downwards. Gravity is described with the concept of a bowling ball on a trampoline and time travel (by travelling at the speed of light) and how a trip to Alpha Centauri and back would affect two 10 year olds if one stayed on earth and the other travelled.
The drawings are in a comic style format and linked by lines, text and coloured boxes and so at times it is a riot of colour but is never jumbled up and always easy to follow.