A course that has been given at Michigan State University for nonscience upper‐class students is described. Its aim is to present the salient ideas of relativity and quantum physics in association with the lives of Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr. Generally qualitative arguments and discussions of key experiments are used to convey the scientific content. The controversy between Bohr and Einstein on quantum theory is included, and serves to point up a basic philosophical innovation in twentieth century physics. Some attention is also given to the attempts of both Einstein and Bohr to influence political events.