What Is Relativity - An Intuitive Introduction to Einstein's Ide

Pages: 224 pages
Published: 3 March 2014
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0231167261
ISBN-13: 978-0231167260
Format: EPUB


What Is Relativity? is a well-written and uniquely readable book that beautifully serves as an introduction to special and general relativity. Jeffrey Bennett carefully avoids bombastic statements and 'spectacularization' of the subject, sticking with well-established facts and presenting them in a clear and compelling manner. -- Alberto Nicolis, Columbia University Since it first appeared more than a decade ago, I have used Cosmic Perspectives by Jeffrey Bennett and his colleagues in no small part because of the excellence of its chapters on relativity. It is wonderful to now have a stand-alone volume in which his lucid, explanatory text and figures are coupled with a thoughtful commentary on why relativity is important in constructing our scientific and personal views of space and time. -- David J. Helfand, President, American Astronomical Society, and President and Vice Chancellor, Quest University Canada I have read lots of introductions to relativity, but none is as clear and compelling as this one. For anyone who is keen to grasp the fundamentally simple yet non-intuitive ideas of both special and general relativity, Jeffrey Bennett's book is the way to go. Impressively understandable and interesting. -- Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute ...Bennett's fun book shows readers what relativity means, and what it reveals about our universe. Publishers Weekly 12/2/2013 For in its relatively few pages, Bennett explains relativity to ordinary readers... An impressively accessible distillation of epoch-making science. Booklist (starred review) 2/1/2014 A sober, comprehensible account of what every intelligent layman should know about space and time. Kirkus Reviews 1/15/2014