This story seems too perfect to be true.

noonespecial · on Feb 16, 2010

I've seen it a couple of times over the years and always wondered. Its not on snopes either way. Think I'll submit it and let them sort it out.

ErrantX · on Feb 16, 2010

That would be cool! But also a disappointment.

I've always read it under the assumption it isn't true - but that it's such a wonderful story Im going ot pretend it is anyway :)

wallflower · on Feb 16, 2010

Someone on the previous thread did some good research. I believe it's golden. Yes, RD does occasionally publish fiction but I believe, without heading to my city library's microfiche archives, that it is true.

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=591165

"3 points by gry 289 days ago | link

Seems on the up and up to me. Originally published in 1955 in the Reader's Digest by Jerome Weidman.

The table of contents are highlighted in this eBay posting, corroborating the byline."

Updated Ebay auction search for November 1955 Reader's Digest, see the TOC image from [updated] ebay listing:

"The Night I Met Einstein by Jerome Weidman . . . . . .61

http://cgi.ebay.com/Readers-Digest-November-1955_W0QQitemZ38...

bdonlan · on Feb 17, 2010

Yes, the story was a winner of Reader's Digest's "First Person" story award - for unique, _true_ personal experiences. See page 214 of the Nov 1955 edition of Reader's Digest for more details.

DeusExMachina · on Feb 16, 2010

Like Einstein, that would seem too intelligent to be true. But he was.

Einstein was not only a great genius, but also a great person. If you study a little about the man, you can easily believe this story to be genuine.

Great, great man.

oliveoil · on Feb 16, 2010

I don't believe it either. Readers digest oozes out of its every sentence.

MikeCapone · on Feb 17, 2010

> Readers digest oozes out of its every sentence.

Definitely in the way it's told. But that doesn't automatically mean that the story isn't true. I'm sure RD could report on Barack Obama's election and make you doubt it really happened..