Books by 12min Personalities

Recognized as one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time, Ludwig van Beethoven is perhaps best known for his nine symphonies, universally considered the cornerstones of Western civilization. Our biography loosely replicates their structure, as it is told in four biographical movements of different length and mood. Scattered between them you’ll find three musical intermezzos, two poignant letters and one thundering finale!

Best known for developing the theory of relativity and his mass-energy equivalence formula, E=MC2, Albert Einstein forever changed our conception of light, space, time, and the structure of the universe. Even more fascinatingly, he did most of it in just a few months in 1905, while working at the Swiss Patent Office. Join us as we journey into the mind of a genius.

The first Ancient Greek philosopher to have left to posterity any sense of individual personality, Socrates is commonly considered one of the founders of Western philosophy. Yet, he wrote nothing, established no school, and held no definite theories of his own. So, how did he get to be so influential? Read ahead to find out!

To this day, Polish-born French scientist Marie Curie is the only person to receive a Nobel Prize in two different scientific fields, physics in 1903 and chemistry in 1911. What’s more, she achieved this singular feat at a time when women could barely get a college degree in most of Europe. What follows is her remarkable story.

Considered the finest Italian poet in history, Dante Alighieri is routinely celebrated as one of the defining influences on modern western European culture. He made lasting contributions to at least five different areas of human endeavor – literature, language, love, politics, and ethics – all of which are profoundly affected by his ideas and writings to this day.

Anointed, with Marx and Freud, as one of the three masters of suspicion, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche foresaw the coming of a new, godless age after Darwin and – in works of hauntingly beautiful prose and poetry – struggled to convince his contemporaries to embrace its imminent arrival. Join us as we follow his life journey and the evolution of his powerful ideas

Frida Kahlo, one of the most significant artists of the 20th century, loved only three things in life: Diego Rivera, painting, and communism. A few extramarital affairs aside, she knew how to remain enthusiastically faithful to all of them, becoming a legend in the process. Awash with pain and passion, her story is a story of triumph, and an exhilarating testament to the human spirit.

The quintessential “Renaissance man,” Leonardo da Vinci possessed unequaled talent and unbridled imagination. Perhaps “the fullest man of all time,” the scope and depth of his innumerable interests were such that he was deemed “wondrous and divine” by his contemporaries, and one can only marvel at the range of his intellect even today. As awe-inspiring as tragic, this is Da Vinci’s incredible story.

William Shakespeare is generally acknowledged to be the greatest of all English writers and one of the most extraordinary creators in human history. His oeuvre consists of two long narrative poems, 154 widely acclaimed sonnets, and about 40 plays, more than half of which are considered masterpieces. Learn more about him and his immense talents!