RELATIVITY: THE SPECIAL AND GENERAL THEORY

This is a review for the Three Rivers Press 1995 paperback printing:This is the original 1920 version of Einstein's semi-popularized write-up of the special and general theories of relativity, with additional commentary and considerations in the appendices. There is no single work that has sustained my interest and fascinated me for so long as this work, the primary reason for my career path in physics. The mathematics are generally simple enough that, in principle, someone with a knowledge of algebra will be able to understand the vast majority of the mathematics. In the event that things get complicated with the math, the text is quite lucid and well written. I say all of this having first read the book when I was in middle school. It's not an easy text for any newcomer, but, I am confident, it can be understood by most competent individuals willing to make a couple of passes through, and it is likely to be especially accessible for those who know something of Einstein's work. Overall, I think this is a text that everyone should give a try, at some point, being one of the greatest human intellectual achievements in history, the ideas matching and, in the opinions of some, surpassing the creative human achievements in other forums; and I personally think a science-literate society that properly values science should be acquainted, even if only in passing, with Einstein's most heralded ideas.As far as this edition, it's not bad. It's the one I purchased when I was in middle school. There are a few things to know. One the positive side, it has a couple of essays not contained in the other editions I have of the selfsame book. The two essays this one contains that others do not (they are included in this edition's appendices) are: "The Structure of Space According to the General Theory of Relativity" and "Relativity and the Problem of Space." On the downside, there isn't even so much as a biographical sketch. The typeset isn't the best, either. This edition is particularly longer in page number (and in paper thickness) than any other edition I have. If you are looking for one with a good introduction, I highly recommend the Barnes and Noble edition, which features an introduction by Amit Hagar. The edition I would avoid, because it has no introduction and is missing the aforementioned essays, is the "Great Minds Series" edition. (Note: All of these editions mentioned are the same and authorized translator, Robert W. Lawson.)

A special description of the basis and the meaning of the Theory. It really is elegant in its simplicity. Einstein's explanation of the basis and origin of Special Relativity is especially intuitive and easy to follow, even with just a background of high school geometry. It is also quiet surprising to find that the derivation of E = m c^2 comes from the necessity of the speed of light being constant for all reference frames in relative motion. The General Theory, however, really can't be understood apart from non-Euclidean geometry, so the explanation of it it's much harder to follow. It is still worth the read, though, to see Einstein's explanation of how the effect of gravity is indistinguishable from the effect of steady acceleration, and how this leads to the conclusion that space curves in the presence of mass. It will also surprise many, as it did me, of how much emphasis Einstein puts on the equivalence of time and space in the structure of the universe, compared to how little time he spends on the equivalent of energy and matter. All in all a great read.

This is a thorough explanation of Einstein's theory. It still remains technical in the formulas, so you do need some knowledge of advanced math to follow that part. The explanations of what the formulas are trying to prove is good, but does lose something in translation (and maybe in generational terminology). All in all a good book for the curious, but not light reading for those without some familiarity on the subject.

Well-written presentation by the author and translator in bite-sized chunks of information, developing the theories in logical steps. Some understanding of algebra is needed to follow the arguments, but concepts sequentially build on each other. Supporting appendices help explain material essential to the book for those needing additional background. Some language is dated and uses formats and expressions no longer in use, but can be understood through careful reading. Some terms might require a dictionary for those not having prior physics experience, but this is not a major limitation. Given how broadly these theories are now used, this short book is a worthwhile time investment for any serious adult or high school student. It would be a great book to read and discuss with others for its meaning and implications.

You've gotta' be kiddin' to ask me what I think of the author whose name is Albert Einstein. Did not bother me in the slightest that a few misspellings and a couple of syntax errors were in it. That set me to thinking that if those were in the original document, and I were the publisher, i would not have corrected them, either. Who would want to correct something as written by one of the world's greatest geniuses. And, as for syntax, hey, his native language was German. I've spent years trying to write correctly in German, and have not come close. And, besides, what could be more reassuring than to see little bits of evidence that Dr. Einstein was human. I rather hope those WERE his errors, and not typo errors made by the publisher or printer. It makes Dr. Einstein seem more real, more human, more like one of the rest of us humans.

A relatividade mudou todos os conceitos sobre o universo, e continua válida, proporcionando viagens espaciais

Relatively good book!

This book is a ripoff. Someone printed some pdf, but it doesn't even contain the images. Instead, it contained the file names (!) of the images.

Ho avuto la sensazione di aver capito perfettamente la teoria della relatività, ma appena ho terminato il libro mi sono accorto che era solo l'effetto illusorio dell'impressionante lucidità di Einstein nell'esporre concetti a lui evidentemente chiarissimi.Mente superiore.