Stefan Klein
Encyclopedia
Stefan Klein is a physicist, author and essayist
who has specialized in writing on science and its social implications in an accessible manner.
He is best known for his books The Science of Happiness and Time: A User's Guide.
His works have been translated into 25 languages and became best sellers in many countries.
, Germany
. Both his parents were chemists and had immigrated from Austria
; their ancestors had been scientists for three generations. Klein studied physics
and analytical philosophy at the University of Munich and Grenoble
and graduated in theoretical biophysics
at the University of Freiburg
, Germany. He left his academic career to become science editor at Der Spiegel
, a newsmagazine, in 1996, and made quickly made a name for himself through a series of ten highly regarded cover stories.
He was awarded the Georg von Holtzbrinck Preis, a prestigious German prize for science writing in 1998.
After a stint at Geo, a popular scientific magazine, he has worked as a freelance author since 2000.
His 2002 book The Science of Happiness is a synthesis of findings from neuroscience
, social psychology
and philosophy
on how positive emotions can arise in the human brain. Happiness
is explained as an automatic signal the brain uses to mark situations that promise a benefit for the organism. As it is triggered when a given situation appears better relative to a previous state, no external conditions whatever can account for lasting happiness. However, Klein believes subjective well-being can be raised by training the awareness for positive emotions when they are generated in the brain.
.
Alison Abbott from Nature Magazine called The Science of Happines 'an extremely well-written, easy-to-read and expertly researched book on a theme which has long been begging for pop-science treatment'.
It was on the German bestseller list for more than a year.
In The Secret Pulse of Time (2006), Klein explored the human capacity to perceive time
. It describes most people's constant difficulties in dealing efficiently with time as a consequence of the brain's organisation: Awareness for time and the ability to follow one's plans are functions of highly evolved and vulnerable cognitive mechanisms. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
, a German national newspaper, characterized this book as 'a protest against the deeply unfair fact that memorable time flies by whereas unbearable time stumbles'. Library Journal
elected its English translation as one of the best science books in 2007
.
Klein has advocated for novel ways to communicate science. In his view, science should rather be told as stories rather than by teaching facts.
He also opposed the unique use of English as a language of science and argued that it would be better to teach science in national languages.
His essays were published by leading German newspapers and by various English language media such as the New York Times
and Nature.
Klein lives in Berlin
. He is married and has two daughters.
who has specialized in writing on science and its social implications in an accessible manner.
He is best known for his books The Science of Happiness and Time: A User's Guide.
His works have been translated into 25 languages and became best sellers in many countries.
Life and work
Klein was born in MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Both his parents were chemists and had immigrated from Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
; their ancestors had been scientists for three generations. Klein studied physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and analytical philosophy at the University of Munich and Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
and graduated in theoretical biophysics
Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
at the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
, Germany. He left his academic career to become science editor at Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
, a newsmagazine, in 1996, and made quickly made a name for himself through a series of ten highly regarded cover stories.
He was awarded the Georg von Holtzbrinck Preis, a prestigious German prize for science writing in 1998.
After a stint at Geo, a popular scientific magazine, he has worked as a freelance author since 2000.
His 2002 book The Science of Happiness is a synthesis of findings from neuroscience
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
, social psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
on how positive emotions can arise in the human brain. Happiness
Happiness
Happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. A variety of biological, psychological, religious, and philosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources....
is explained as an automatic signal the brain uses to mark situations that promise a benefit for the organism. As it is triggered when a given situation appears better relative to a previous state, no external conditions whatever can account for lasting happiness. However, Klein believes subjective well-being can be raised by training the awareness for positive emotions when they are generated in the brain.
.
Alison Abbott from Nature Magazine called The Science of Happines 'an extremely well-written, easy-to-read and expertly researched book on a theme which has long been begging for pop-science treatment'.
It was on the German bestseller list for more than a year.
In The Secret Pulse of Time (2006), Klein explored the human capacity to perceive time
Time
Time is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects....
. It describes most people's constant difficulties in dealing efficiently with time as a consequence of the brain's organisation: Awareness for time and the ability to follow one's plans are functions of highly evolved and vulnerable cognitive mechanisms. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , short F.A.Z., also known as the FAZ, is a national German newspaper, founded in 1949. It is published daily in Frankfurt am Main. The Sunday edition is the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung .F.A.Z...
, a German national newspaper, characterized this book as 'a protest against the deeply unfair fact that memorable time flies by whereas unbearable time stumbles'. Library Journal
Library Journal
Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
elected its English translation as one of the best science books in 2007
.
Klein has advocated for novel ways to communicate science. In his view, science should rather be told as stories rather than by teaching facts.
He also opposed the unique use of English as a language of science and argued that it would be better to teach science in national languages.
His essays were published by leading German newspapers and by various English language media such as the New York Times
and Nature.
Klein lives in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. He is married and has two daughters.
English
- The Science of Happiness, Marlowe 2006, ISBN 1-56924-328-X
- The Secret Pulse of Time, Marlowe 2007, ISBN 1-60094-017-X
- Published in Paperback as Time: A User's Guide, Penguin 2008, ISBN 0-14103-463-7
German
- Die Tagebücher der Schöpfung, dtv: Munich 2000 ISBN 3-423-34154-8
- Die Glücksformel, Rowohlt: Reinbek 2002 ISBN 3-498-03509-6
- Alles Zufall, Rowohlt: Reinbek 2004 ISBN 3-498-03519-3
- Zeit, S.Fischer: Frankfurt 2006 ISBN 3-10-039610-3
- Da Vincis Vermächtnis oder Wie Leonardo die Welt neu erfand. Frankfurt 2008, ISBN 978-3100396129