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Title: Relativity: The Special and the General Theory--A Clear Explanation that Anyone Can Understand by Albert Einstein ISBN: 0-517-02961-8 Publisher: Gramercy Pub. Date: 05 October, 1988 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.35 (54 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Historically useful, but an useless introduction
Comment: As an introduction to the theory of relativity this book fails hilariously. However, as a historical reference of how it was developed this book is very important and shows that the theory of relativity was not a magic idea from Einstein's mind, but a theory developed during years by many physicsits as George FitzGerald, Hendrik Lorentz, Henri Poincare, H. Minkowski, Marcel Grossman, David Hilbert and others. Compared to other books that explains the theory of relativity, such as Joseph Schwartz' "Einstein for beginners", this one is really difficult to understand (not impossible of course, however difficult). The deduction of Lorentz' transformation in the appendix is also very confusing compared to Schwartz. Well, this book is a bit old compared to Schwartz' book, thus it is normal to find out that the way Eistein expose the theory is hard compared to a more recent book. Also if you are an Einstein admire this book is nice to have a deeper view of what he thinks of the development of the theory.
Rating: 5
Summary: The words of the Master
Comment: This is the introduction to relativity written by Einstein. It is NOT the book which contains the original works, which is a very difficult book (just think that Planck had to ask for several clarifications before he understood Einstein's breakthrough paper). Here the great scientist set to himself the goal of explaining to the educated, but not specialized, man.
Einstein was, of course, very deep. When he talked about any topic in physics, chances are that he went deeper than anyone else who thought about the same theme, for a comparable time span. Now, imagine relativity. When he wrote this book he had thought about this matter for several decades. Nobody reached this depth, then and afterwards. The fruits of his thought, like black-holes, are being proved true now, after so much time!
So, the difference between this book and all other introductory books on relativity is proportional to the difference between Einstein himself and the other authors. You don't have to believe me: just read the excerpts! You'll not remain indifferent to the majesty of his ideas. Put yourself in the right mood: Einstein was a very simple man who was, in writing this book, sincerely interested in explaining his creation to you. Follow his path, read attentively, and, above all, think!
The reward will be great.
Rating: 4
Summary: Requires a Mature Reader
Comment: I've used this book with my high school students - very slow going. You can definitely understand the issues involved in relativity, even as a layman, from reading this book, but THIS IS NOT AN EASY READ! A mature, dedicated reader will get through this book. I'm proud of my high school students for struggling through this book, but readers at that age mostly do not have the intensity to really appreciate it.
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Title: The Principle of Relativity by et al., Albert Einstein ISBN: 0486600815 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 June, 1952 List Price(USD): $8.95 |
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Title: A Brief History of Time : The Updated and Expanded Tenth Anniversary Edition by Stephen Hawking ISBN: 0553380168 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 September, 1998 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: The Elegant Universe : Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory by Brian Greene ISBN: 0375708111 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 29 February, 2000 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: The Meaning of Relativity by Albert Einstein ISBN: 0691023522 Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr Pub. Date: 01 November, 1966 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Ideas & Opinions by Albert Einstein ISBN: 0517003937 Publisher: Gramercy Pub. Date: 12 December, 1988 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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