Scientific productivity of Einstein, Freud and Landsteiner

The scientific productivity of Albert Einstein was compared to that of designated controls Karl Landsteiner (an experimental scientist) and Sigmund Freud (an eminent theorist). Three assumptions made for this comparison were (1) that Einstein and his designated controls had equal scientific stature; (2) that their publications were produced in a similar, if not identical, sociocultural milieu; and (3) the number of publications is directly proportional to scientific productivity. At the end of their illustrious careers, Einstein, Freud and Landsteiner accumulated 315, 320 and 345 scientific publications respectively. Einstein was the sole author in 88% of his publications, which validates the third assumption. Thus, one can conclude that quantitative comparison of Einstein's total scientific publications with that of appropriate controls such as Landsteiner and Freud shows that Einstein's chronic ill health did not influence his scientific productivity.