Albert Einstein

Relativity:The Special and the General Theory

There are plenty of books that will tell you about relativity, but there are advantages of hearing it 'straight from the horse's mouth' as it were. Albert Einstein's book Relativity:The Special and the General Theory gives you the chance to do this.

The book starts with a look at classical physics and geometry, and describes how the propagation of light didn't fit in to the principles of relativity found elsewhere in physics. Einstein then introduces his famous argument involving lightning strikes seen from a train and from the ground and goes on to derive the equations of special relativity. This is followed by an explanation of how space and time become united into four-dimensional spacetime.

The second part of the book moves on to general relativity, looking at curvature in space and space time, and discussing the equivalence principle and it's consequences. This is followed by a discussion of the models of the universe which can be obtained from GR (although this was before most of the work in this area). There are several appendices, including one with a discussion of the nature of space.

There is some of the usual mathematics for the derivation of SR, but the later parts of the book are wholly non-mathematical. The book will be of historical interest to those who have learnt about relativity, but I think it will also be of interest to novices in the subject who can thus find out what relativity is about.

Amazon.com info

Paperback 288 pages
ISBN: 0452287847
Salesrank: 1328048
Weight:0.45 lbs

Published: 2006 Plume

Marketplace:New from $4.00:Used from $0.93

Buy from Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk info

Paperback 124 pages
ISBN: 1406517879
Salesrank: 1020362
Weight:0.05 lbs

Published: 2007 Dodo Press

Marketplace:New from £5.50:Used from £9.37

Buy from Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.ca info

Paperback 288 pages
ISBN: 0452287847
Salesrank: 1579328
Weight:0.45 lbs

Published:

Marketplace:New from CDN$ 9.95:Used from CDN$ 9.94

Buy from Amazon.ca

Product Description
Albert Einstein’s classic guide to the theory of relativity—with insights from today’s leading experts This new edition of Relativity—the first updated version in over fifty years—includes a wealth of original material written by some of today’s foremost scientific authorities. Bestselling author and physicist Roger Penrose puts Einstein’s work in historical context and details major developments in relativity theory over subsequent years. Relativity expert Robert Geroch provides commentary on key aspects of the special and general theories; and historian David Cassidy explores the profound impact of Einstein’s ideas on our culture at large. Now, over ninety years after its first publication, this definitive edition brings a classic text into the new millennium.

Product Description

Albert Einstein’s classic guide to the theory of relativity—with insights from today’s leading experts

This new edition of Relativity—the first updated version in over fifty years—includes a wealth of original material written by some of today’s foremost scientific authorities. Bestselling author and physicist Roger Penrose puts Einstein’s work in historical context and details major developments in relativity theory over subsequent years. Relativity expert Robert Geroch provides commentary on key aspects of the special and general theories; and historian David Cassidy explores the profound impact of Einstein’s ideas on our culture at large. Now, over ninety years after its first publication, this definitive edition brings a classic text into the new millennium.

An augmented version of Einstein's book for a general audience ****
There are many versions of Einstein's book on relativity, written for a general audience. This book was written in 1916, in German and then translated into English. The book being reviewed here uses a 1920 edition, but it is far from being the newest one that Einstein wrote. The newest, the 15th edition, was written in 1952, and it is the most complete, as it contains several appendices that are not in earlier editions, as well as some corrections of errors that appeared in earlier editions. I have read both the 15th edition and this one, and if you want the best version of Einstein's text I would definitely get the 15th edition, as opposed to the one being reviewed here. However, the edition being reviewed here has been augmented with new material, and I think that this makes it a better choice than the 15th edition. This book contains an interesting introduction by Roger Penrose, which provides some insights concerning Relativity Theory and the cosmological advances that have grown out of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. The book contains lengthy commentaries by Robert Geroch that clarify many of Einstein's chapters. Finally, there is an essay by David Cassidy on the "Cultural Legacy of Relativity Theory". In my opinion these additions more than make up for the appendices that are provided in the more complete 15th edition of Einstein's book. I liked this book and recommend it over the 15th edition, but I cannot give it 5 stars. I found Einstein's prose to be typical of 19th century scientific prose, that is to say somewhat tedious and less than clear. This is especially true of the latter half of the book, which is devoted to the General Theory. To make matters worse, it was originally written in German and may have lost some clarity in the translation. There is a final chapter on cosmology that, because of the rapid advances in this field, make this section largely only of historical interest. I recommend this book if you really want to read Einstein, albeit in translation, but there are better choices if you want an introduction to Relativity Theory. If you want a better introductory treatment of Relativity, I highly recommend Martin Gardners "Relativity Simply Explained" and if you want an introductory treatment with a little more scientific detail (but still without any math) I recommend Richard Wolfson's "Simply Einstein - Relativity Demystified".

An augmented version of Einstein's book for a general audience ****

There are many versions of Einstein's book on relativity, written for a general audience. This book was written in 1916, in German and then translated into English. The book being reviewed here uses a 1920 edition, but it is far from being the newest one that Einstein wrote. The newest, the 15th edition, was written in 1952, and it is the most complete, as it contains several appendices that are not in earlier editions, as well as some corrections of errors that appeared in earlier editions. I have read both the 15th edition and this one, and if you want the best version of Einstein's text I would definitely get the 15th edition, as opposed to the one being reviewed here. However, the edition being reviewed here has been augmented with new material, and I think that this makes it a better choice than the 15th edition.

This book contains an interesting introduction by Roger Penrose, which provides some insights concerning Relativity Theory and the cosmological advances that have grown out of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. The book contains lengthy commentaries by Robert Geroch that clarify many of Einstein's chapters. Finally, there is an essay by David Cassidy on the "Cultural Legacy of Relativity Theory". In my opinion these additions more than make up for the appendices that are provided in the more complete 15th edition of Einstein's book.

I liked this book and recommend it over the 15th edition, but I cannot give it 5 stars. I found Einstein's prose to be typical of 19th century scientific prose, that is to say somewhat tedious and less than clear. This is especially true of the latter half of the book, which is devoted to the General Theory. To make matters worse, it was originally written in German and may have lost some clarity in the translation. There is a final chapter on cosmology that, because of the rapid advances in this field, make this section largely only of historical interest.

I recommend this book if you really want to read Einstein, albeit in translation, but there are better choices if you want an introduction to Relativity Theory. If you want a better introductory treatment of Relativity, I highly recommend Martin Gardners "Relativity Simply Explained" and if you want an introductory treatment with a little more scientific detail (but still without any math) I recommend Richard Wolfson's "Simply Einstein - Relativity Demystified".

Something Important Is Missing. *
This version does not have any diagrams, only refs to nonexistant GIF image files. This is involved stuff here, a reader needs the illistrations. Please explore the other versions even if they cost more. Without the formula images this is just about unreadable.

Something Important Is Missing. *

This version does not have any diagrams, only refs to nonexistant GIF image files.
This is involved stuff here, a reader needs the illistrations.
Please explore the other versions even if they cost more. Without the formula images this is just about unreadable.

This is a HORRIBLE Kindle Version *
This was my first bad experience with the Kindle. Had I picked this book up at a store, I would've flipped through the pages and realized that it was poorly formated. There are carriage returns at all the wrong places, it's nearly impossible to read. I wish I'd paid a few bucks more and gotten one of the other versions. If you're a kindle owner - go elsewhere.

This is a HORRIBLE Kindle Version *

This was my first bad experience with the Kindle. Had I picked this book up at a store, I would've flipped through the pages and realized that it was poorly formated. There are carriage returns at all the wrong places, it's nearly impossible to read. I wish I'd paid a few bucks more and gotten one of the other versions.

If you're a kindle owner - go elsewhere.

Harder than it needs to be *
This Dodo Press edition is riddled with annoying typos -- even in some equations and variable names. In addition the section numbers referred to in the text are only found in the table of contents, making navigation cumbersome. A classic like this deserves better. Look for another edition.

Harder than it needs to be *

This Dodo Press edition is riddled with annoying typos -- even in some equations and variable names. In addition the section numbers referred to in the text are only found in the table of contents, making navigation cumbersome.

A classic like this deserves better. Look for another edition.

Bah! *
No, Einstein's Relativity IS amazingly brilliant and eloquent, I assure you of this. My review, although, is a buyer beware scenario. I ordered this exact copy of the text and the one that arrived had all sorts of horrendous typos. One? Two? No, more like...a ton. In an example of this, the 'aether' where the character 'ae' is a single one, somehow in the process of printing it, the character got repaced by a space and question mark! So when Einstein talks about the 'process by which the? ther happens...' or some such example, I translate it as 'bad' and not 'aether'. By all means, buy Einstein's copy of Relativity, but please be cautious when ordering from this particular publisher. I'm unaware of whether or not this problem is widespread, but to those who get the one with the maddening typos riddled all over it, just bear through it and appreciate Einstein's eloquence and not the translator or publisher's, in my own personal opinion, bad spellchecking.

Bah! *

No, Einstein's Relativity IS amazingly brilliant and eloquent, I assure you of this. My review, although, is a buyer beware scenario. I ordered this exact copy of the text and the one that arrived had all sorts of horrendous typos. One? Two? No, more like...a ton. In an example of this, the 'aether' where the character 'ae' is a single one, somehow in the process of printing it, the character got repaced by a space and question mark! So when Einstein talks about the 'process by which the? ther happens...' or some such example, I translate it as 'bad' and not 'aether'.

By all means, buy Einstein's copy of Relativity, but please be cautious when ordering from this particular publisher. I'm unaware of whether or not this problem is widespread, but to those who get the one with the maddening typos riddled all over it, just bear through it and appreciate Einstein's eloquence and not the translator or publisher's, in my own personal opinion, bad spellchecking.

Do not buy this edition!!! *
I have been buying books from amazon for years now. This book has got to be the worst print/edition ever! The listing says that this edition is the "illustrated edition". In fact, there are no new illustrations, just the same old ones found in other earlier texts by other publishers. The written text is of average quality print. The very few diagrams present look as if they were done by a mid 1980s dot matrix printer. Some of the line diagrams actually appear 'fuzzy'. The binding is flimsy and of poor quality. Clearly this book will not last. If you try and contact the publisher, dodo press at www.dodopress.co.uk you will be re-directed to another website of a book seller. There is no direct telephone number to dodo press. Einsteins Relativity: The Special and the General theory is of course a classic. But this print by dodo press is a disgrace. Do not make the same mistake as i did, and instead buy one of the other prints by Penguin, Routledge, crown publications or even dover. Sorry to be so negative, but l felt compelled to warn fellow amazonians. Regards

Do not buy this edition!!! *

I have been buying books from amazon for years now. This book has got to be the worst print/edition ever!
The listing says that this edition is the "illustrated edition". In fact, there are no new illustrations, just the same old ones found in other earlier texts by other publishers.
The written text is of average quality print. The very few diagrams present look as if they were done by a mid 1980s dot matrix printer. Some of the line diagrams actually appear 'fuzzy'.
The binding is flimsy and of poor quality. Clearly this book will not last.
If you try and contact the publisher, dodo press at www.dodopress.co.uk you will be re-directed to another website of a book seller. There is no direct telephone number to dodo press.
Einsteins Relativity: The Special and the General theory is of course a classic. But this print by dodo press is a disgrace. Do not make the same mistake as i did, and instead buy one of the other prints by Penguin, Routledge, crown publications or even dover.
Sorry to be so negative, but l felt compelled to warn fellow amazonians.

Regards

Classic book; horrible print. *
My 1 star is for this particular printing of the book, and has nothing to do with Einstein's book, which is fantastic. The copy I received has the following "features": - Unnumbered sections (both in the Table of Contents, and in the heading for each section). - Formulae which (for no good reason) appear in superscript (e.g. notes on page 51). - The use of the number 1 instead of ' (as in prime, e.g. K1 instead of K', page 24). At least they put the 1 in superscript (though that makes it seem like a footnote). - Double words (e.g. "the the" on page 34). - Over-inked, smeared text (e.g. page 32). - Non-italicized variables. - Footnotes demarcated by an asterisk (*) instead of superscript numbers (countless examples). - Non-matching double quotes (they all face one way, usually). - Tacky cover. - Inexplicable, unnecessary spaces. This list isn't exhaustive; there is probably plenty more wrong with it. Shameful. I've since downloaded a free PDF of the book from [...]

Classic book; horrible print. *

My 1 star is for this particular printing of the book, and has nothing to do with Einstein's book, which is fantastic.

The copy I received has the following "features":

- Unnumbered sections (both in the Table of Contents, and in the heading for each section).
- Formulae which (for no good reason) appear in superscript (e.g. notes on page 51).
- The use of the number 1 instead of ' (as in prime, e.g. K1 instead of K', page 24). At least they put the 1 in superscript (though that makes it seem like a footnote).
- Double words (e.g. "the the" on page 34).
- Over-inked, smeared text (e.g. page 32).
- Non-italicized variables.
- Footnotes demarcated by an asterisk (*) instead of superscript numbers (countless examples).
- Non-matching double quotes (they all face one way, usually).
- Tacky cover.
- Inexplicable, unnecessary spaces.

This list isn't exhaustive; there is probably plenty more wrong with it. Shameful. I've since downloaded a free PDF of the book from [...]

A concise book that captures the essence. ****
I own this book and have read it a few times and each time I am impressed by the clarity with which it is written. It explains the concepts of relativity in words. It avoids (technical) calculations and formulas, not for the usual 'commercial' reasons, but because the author shows he can do without. And ask yourself: how many authors are capable of doing that? The strength of the book is its compactness: the author forces you to think things through, before moving on to the next chapter. I think this little book is great to own next to a more advanced textbook because it really adds value, for a small price. Buy this book for its content only: it contains no fancy graphics or other 'eye catchers'.

A concise book that captures the essence. ****

I own this book and have read it a few times and each time I am impressed by the clarity with which it is written. It explains the concepts of relativity in words. It avoids (technical) calculations and formulas, not for the usual 'commercial' reasons, but because the author shows he can do without. And ask yourself: how many authors are capable of doing that?

The strength of the book is its compactness: the author forces you to think things through, before moving on to the next chapter. I think this little book is great to own next to a more advanced textbook because it really adds value, for a small price.

Buy this book for its content only: it contains no fancy graphics or other 'eye catchers'.