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At the heart of Einstein’s relativity lies the work of an Italian mathematician: Gregorio Ricci Curbastro. After a “scientist’s block”, Einstein found the tensor calculus by Ricci was the algorithm that let him turn an evasive intuition in a solid physical theory. Tensor calculus got its revenge, after having been neglected by the mathematical community, but while Einstein became a mundane god Ricci kept his usual shyness. This books tells the birth of relativity from a new point of view, designing the parallel biographies of the two scientists, so different and yet destined to be linked forever by their work.

1- A genial slacker

2- Relativity before Einstein

3- An invariant theory

4- Welcome Relativtheorie

5- Toward a new idea of gravitation

6- A good disciple

7- Gauss and Riemman's inheritance

8- Turning point

9- Further attempts

10- The heart of the Theory

11- The scientist's prophecy

12- Spaghetties and Levi-Civita

13- Predestined math

With a background in theoretical physics, Fabio Toscano, specialized in fundaments and philosophy of physics and in science communication. He is a science writer for newspapers, web and TV. He wrote other successful biographies of scientists like Galileo’s Heir (2008).