Einstein's Theory of Relativity
By Max Born
* Publisher: Dover Publications
* Number Of Pages: 376
* Publication Date: 1962-06-01
* ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0486607690
* ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780486607696
* Binding: Paperback
Book Description:
This excellent, semi-technical account includes a review of classical physics (origin of space and time measurements, Ptolemaic and Copernican astronomy, laws of motion, inertia, and more) and coverage of Einstein's special and general theories of relativity, discussing the concept of simultaneity, kinematics, Einstein's mechanics and dynamics, and more.
Summary: Perhaps the best non-technical overview out there
Rating: 5
This is perhaps the best of the non-technical treatments out there of RT that require some mathematical literacy but no higher math like calculus. I read an earlier edition of this book almost 30 years ago when first in college, after reading one of the non-mathematical books, and it really opened my eyes to some of more advanced and technical aspects of the theory. Yes, there is considerable math in the book, but it's all algebra, no calculus is needed. Born covers all the important facets and aspects of the theory, without skipping over the more difficult concepts.
Years later, when my mathematical skills were more developed (I was up thru advanced calc and a year of differential equations), I went to the trouble (although I was just a biology major), of reading one of Born's books on Optics, which was quite fascinating. It brought back memories of the earlier, more readable relativity book, since I wasn't quite up to the level of his book on Optics, but then it's always good to try to stretch your mind a bit. But Born was such a great presenter that I struggled through the book despite the overall level of technical difficulty. I find optics for some reason the most interesting of all the areas of physics that I have tried to learn something about, perhaps because of my graduate work in the neurophysiology and biophysics of visual perception, to which it has some relevance.
But getting back to this book, you won't find the math too daunting if you just remember some high school algebra. I learned more from this book than any other popular treatment, of which I've probably read half a dozen. Overall, a great intro to the subject and probably the most unstintingly detailed in coverage of the more difficult ideas.
http://ifile.it/skgecf/einsteins_theory_of_relativity_max_born_-_dover_publications.djvu
