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Relativity: The Special and the General Theory
 
 
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Relativity: The Special and the General Theory (Paperback)

by Albert Einstein (Author) "In your schooldays most of you who read this book made acquaintance with the noble building of Euclid's geometry, and you remember-perhaps with more respect..." (more)
4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 208 pages
  • Publisher: Crown Publications; New Ed edition (30 Jun 1996)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0517884410
  • ISBN-13: 978-0517884416
  • Product Dimensions: 20 x 13 x 1.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 151,290 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #35 in  Books > Scientific, Technical & Medical > Physics > Relativity Physics
    #48 in  Books > Science & Nature > Physics > Relativity
    #75 in  Books > Science & Nature > Physics > Philosophy of Physics

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Product Description

Product Description
In this famous short book Einstein explains clearly, using the minimum amount of mathematical terms, the basic ideas and principles of the theory which has shaped the world we live in today. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Time's Man of the Century, Albert Einstein is the unquestioned founder of modern physics, and relativity the most important scientific idea of the modern era. In this famous short book Einstein explains clearly, using the minimum amount of mathematical terms, the basic ideas and principles of the theory which has shaped the world we live in today. Unsurpassed by any subsequent books on relativity, this remains the most popular and useful exposition of Einstein's immense contribution to human knowledge. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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In your schooldays most of you who read this book made acquaintance with the noble building of Euclid's geometry, and you remember-perhaps with more respect than love-the magnificent structure, on the lofty staircase of which you were chased about for uncounted hours by conscientious teachers. Read the first page
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37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars mastermind at work, 20 Jun 1999
By A Customer
The reviewer of April 13 from Moscow, Idaho says this is not the book to read unless you already understand the theory. Maybe fair enough. It was written when Einstein had achieved youthful fame, though, not in his dotage, if he had such a thing. It may be a little more difficult for the translation, but not much. Contrary to some reviewers, it is not that easy to follow, and if it seems like an easy read, you probably haven't understood it. There are many books written since where it is probably easier to learn about special relativity, to say nothing of the basic ideas of general relativity. But once you have started to get the hang of things, this book is a masterpiece of exposition! It allows one to follow Einstein's actual thought process in arriving at these theories -- pretty much by a process of pure thought -- more or less in the steps he probably took himself. There is not a word in the exposition that was not carefully thought out. So, learn the theory somewhere else and then read this book -- you'll understand the theory better for reading Einstein's book -- or read this book first, keep going back to it 'til it starts to make sense, and maybe consult some other, more "user-friendly" textbook at the same time. Einstein claims his book allows a lay reader with only high school math to understand relativity. To which a friend of mine replied "Yeah, if you have an IQ of 800". To which I say, have patience, keep thinking about it and going back to it.
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29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A rare, mid-ability book on a very difficult subject., 18 Jan 2002
This book is excellent, as for for the first time on any book I've read on the subject, it has lots of mathematics, BUT NO ROCKET SCIENCE! As a result, its an excellent read for someone who's done say A-level maths at school. It is unique as most books I've looked at are either for the complete mathematical layman with very few equations, e.g. Einsteins Universe by Nigel Calder, or are the sort geared towards mekon-headed NASA engineers with IQ's of 200... The discussion on General relativity is very sparse, with only the basic ideas outlined, but the reasoning behind special relativity is beautifully described, and for the first time out of any book I've erad on the subject I feel that I have started to understand it. The book also has an appendix with mathematical 'work-throughs' as to how the equations came about, which is very nice but unfortunately a small number of steps are left out which is annoying. The book is brief, but will inspire you to dig out and read more on the subject from different authors. And lastly, let's be honest here, this book is VERY inexpensive so one can hardly grumble at it's brevity. My advice: if you didn't understand this book, just read and re-read the initial chapters on the Lorentz transformation, which is the basic idea behind it all, and the penny will finally drop!
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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for the young student of Physics, 7 Jan 2003
Great for the young student of Physics

This is an excellent book, written in the “Master’s” own style and faithfully translated from the German by Robert Lawson. The translation dates to 1920 and new readers may find the English a little quaint, but for all that, it is a great effort at presenting in “plain speak”, the concepts of Relativity.

The book starts with a lucid explanation of the Train and Platform example of Galelian Relativity and then proceeds to highlight the incompatibility between the principle of relativity and the constancy of the speed of light. Without encumbering the reader with the Maths (found in the appendices) the ideas of time dilation and length contraction are discussed. The General Theory is developed via a fine example: that of an observer on a rotating disk.

This is a good complement to the overtly scientific/mathmatical books on the subject. Unfortunately,, despite its many qualities, just like many of the alternatives of this genre, Einstein’s book does not fully succeed in explaining the complex concepts to the lay reader. Rather, this is a nice little book that will be suitable for a good calibre Maths/Physics student in the sixth form/high school.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical MileStone.
This book has a historical value that exceeds whatever cons it might have.

It is a book that explains Relativity by Einstein himself, and not an interpretation by any... Read more
Published 1 month ago by George Spiros

5.0 out of 5 stars The Relativity of Expression
In this work Albert Einstein elucidates his General and Special Theory of Relativity in a manner relatively (Ha!) devoid of complicated mathematical jargon. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Spin

5.0 out of 5 stars The single most original idea a human mind has every created
If you dont know why Einstein is famous this short book is the reason. In it he outline that time is not constant 1 year for me is not the same as 1 year for you (depending how... Read more
Published 16 months ago by I. jarvie

5.0 out of 5 stars A uniqe conversation with one of the greatest minds of mankind.
This book is an excellent example of the fact that nobody can explain a theory better than it own creator. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Antonios F. Arkas

2.0 out of 5 stars He wasn't a genius at everything then?
.
Looking for a clear, simple guide to relativity? Then read something else. I don't doubt the quality of this book if you're of the required intellect to understand it, but... Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2006 by Astro Novice

4.0 out of 5 stars Two of the great theories of physics by the man himself
Excellent. The language is early twentieth century and can be quite contrived, but the physics is put clearly and simply. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2001 by Tony Smith (bifflesquiffle.smi...

1.0 out of 5 stars too difficult !
This book is a failure. Einstein was a great scientist but a bad writer. The book is difficult, boring, and opaque to the unscientific layman. Read more
Published on 23 Aug 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars try using your eyes a little harder
yes you can get a bannana milkshake in this damn country so stop complaining and go and find your nearest pizza hut.
Published on 26 May 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning
I was absolutly bowled over by the magnificent theorys that einstein portrayed in his study the shear magnitude of this piece of work left me quivering in my little cotton... Read more
Published on 21 May 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars To wuxian@shaw.wave.ca from Canada
Though the book maybe was not a linguistically correct, the theory is. Einstein's theory has been tested and retested hundreds of times in the past eighty years and it has never... Read more
Published on 12 May 1999

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