The Nobel Prize-winning scientists presentation of his landmark theory
According to Einstein himself, this book is intended to gi... read full description
According to Einstein himself, this book is intended to gi... read full description
reviews
Oct 27, 2007
Rob
rated it: 
edit: i wrote the 4-star review below before reading the fifth appendix. i mean, who could imagine that an appendix could change anything? well, this one did. all the chapters in the body of the book are 2 or 3 pages. Appendix V is a 20-page essay, written 36 years after the rest of the book and just 3 years before einstein died. it is a tour de force on the history, philosophy, and psychology (i kid you not) of the scientific understanding of empty space. it was shocking, thrilling, amazi
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Aug 29, 2011
Bob
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Given the frustrations with books describing Einstein's theories of special and general relativity, it was a surprise to find that Einstein does a good job himself at trying to make his theories comprehensible to the non-specialized public.
In the Special Theory of Relativity, Einstein states that space and time are not fixed properties, that they are intimately connected to each other (hence, spacetime, "ST"), that time and space are shorter and slower as an object moves More...
In the Special Theory of Relativity, Einstein states that space and time are not fixed properties, that they are intimately connected to each other (hence, spacetime, "ST"), that time and space are shorter and slower as an object moves More...
May 10, 2011
Sam
rated it:
Years ago,in my college physics class,I had to actually learn and try to explain Einstein's theory of relativity. With the complex math and all the workbooks, it was a task I really hated. I thought I understood it and was able to get through the tests. But I never really paid close attention to what it really meant. At that time, all I wanted was to be able to answer queations about it to get grades. Then, I changed my major and went into other subjects that I really cared about. After so many
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Oct 15, 2010
Austin
rated it:
Einstein's relativity: this book left me with the unsettling impression that Einstein was looking at the Lorentz equations, saw an opportunity for some algebraic substitutions, worked the problem as a straight-up algebra assignment and came up with the unexpected result of the variation of time and space with respect to the observer's velocity, the equivalence between matter and energy, and hence the A-bomb.
Einstein makes a point of demonstrating his theory with algebra alone. If More...
Einstein makes a point of demonstrating his theory with algebra alone. If More...
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Oct 14, 2009
Tony
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Einstein, Albert. RELATIVITY: The Special and General Theory. (German-1916; Eng.-1920). ****. And now for something completely different... I first read this small book by Einstein in, I guess, 1960, just after I had finished a course in Nuclear Physics. I didn’t understand it then. Since then, I have completed two degrees in chemistry and worked in the field for 45 years. I still don’t understand all of it. This was his attempt to present these theories to the lay public. This is prob
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Mar 23, 2011
Heather
rated it:
Read on my Kindle, free from Project Gutenberg.
The biggest problem I had with this was actually one of presentation. The team which had prepared it for release had presented all the equations as jpegs, a reasonable idea when reading it in HTML, but not a good one when reading it on a Kindle! Still, who am I kidding - the equations probably wouldn't have made sense to me anyway....
I am an arts graduate trying to understand relativity. I've read Hawking, and I've read Cox, and More...
The biggest problem I had with this was actually one of presentation. The team which had prepared it for release had presented all the equations as jpegs, a reasonable idea when reading it in HTML, but not a good one when reading it on a Kindle! Still, who am I kidding - the equations probably wouldn't have made sense to me anyway....
I am an arts graduate trying to understand relativity. I've read Hawking, and I've read Cox, and More...
Nov 06, 2009
Adam
rated it:
The theory of relativity is amazing and important, but contrary to what the tagline says, Einstein himself is probably not the best person to have explain it to you. I read this class for Freshman Studies in college, and I honestly have to admit that I wouldn't have gotten much of it without the significant aid of in-depth lectures and classroom discussions. This is not because the ideas themselves are too complex, but because Einstein fails in his attempt to make his ideas understood to a lay
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Nov 28, 2011
Michael
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Physicists need to read the work of the masters. Einstein is one of course.
In particular, there are two papers by Einstein that every theoretical physicist should read: On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies and On the Foundations of the General Theory of Relativity.
However, none of them gives quite the intuitive insight that this books gives. It was a book meant for laypeople. However, I suspect that it's language and level of physical intuition is out of most people's gr More...
In particular, there are two papers by Einstein that every theoretical physicist should read: On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies and On the Foundations of the General Theory of Relativity.
However, none of them gives quite the intuitive insight that this books gives. It was a book meant for laypeople. However, I suspect that it's language and level of physical intuition is out of most people's gr More...
Oct 18, 2011
Josh
rated it:
It's a fairly dense book, but I enjoyed it and definitely have a better understanding of relativity than I did, despite the fact that I probably missed a lot.
It is essentially a must to be very comfortable with college-level algebra and an understanding of basic Newtonian mechanics is certainly helpful. A persistent reader could probably find utility in this book if they were not particularly well-versed in basic math, though.
Also, I skipped the first 2 appendices. There More...
It is essentially a must to be very comfortable with college-level algebra and an understanding of basic Newtonian mechanics is certainly helpful. A persistent reader could probably find utility in this book if they were not particularly well-versed in basic math, though.
Also, I skipped the first 2 appendices. There More...
Sep 02, 2011
Dawnh
rated it:
It's always a little surprising to me when I remember that this book was written for non-physicists in 1920. First, it surprises me because it changed the face of physics forever- but was directed toward the general, if at least college educated, public. Second, it surprises me to realize that the popularity of the Science and Discovery Channels (and others) is not a new thing, but a new iteration of an old fascination with science.
I'm about half way through the book. It is pretty easy More...
I'm about half way through the book. It is pretty easy More...
Feb 25, 2010
Magila
rated it:
i know, i know, how does einstein's relativity get a 3. honestly, by the time i read it, the cat was kind of out of the bag. it wasn't mind blowing because it wasn't new. also, this is not 'by einstein' in the classic sense - other folks put together a collection of his works. it's still brilliant, and gets a def 'you should read this book.'. unless you're the only physicist left on the planet who hasn't read it though, i can all but promise you will not love it. that said, you can official
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Aug 12, 2011
Chris
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I was intimidated by this book when I bought it. After all, it's written by Einstein himself. It must be a mile over my head, so I thought. However, this book turned out to be very readable. Einstein's goal in this book was to develop his special and general theories of relativity for non-physicists. He develops each theory by breaking the concepts into many small nuggets: 2 - 10 page chapters. He begins with Newtonian theory and explains its apparent shortcomings and then uses simple s
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Feb 22, 2011
Erik
rated it:
As a kid my serious interests were scientific. I collected feathers, insects, rocks and fossils; maintained an aerospace scrapbook; kept a journal about space exploration; and read a lot of science books ranging from popular stuff and textbooks to serious works from the library which I hardly understood. My greatest intellectual interests by junior high were in cosmology and astronomy.
During middle school, or possibly during the freshman year in high school, I started going to the More...
During middle school, or possibly during the freshman year in high school, I started going to the More...
Oct 24, 2008
ajp3
rated it:
this is not an easy read, he was known for his ability to make complex things seem simple but that quality just doesn't come through in this book. if you read it, you are probably entering uncharted intellectual territory, so be aware that reading this book will probably take a lot more time than its thickness may lead you to believe.
I think everyone should at least try to read this book, since for a physics book it contains surprisingly little maths; and if they have to, skip the m More...
I think everyone should at least try to read this book, since for a physics book it contains surprisingly little maths; and if they have to, skip the m More...
Aug 19, 2007
John
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Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity is one of the most important to modern science (only evolution rivals it, and that is in biology, where this is in physics), and so it should be explained to everyone. Einstein did his best to explain his theory for laymen, but with less success than Sigmund Freud or Joseph Campbell in doing the same with their theories; you need a working knowledge of physics to approach this book. Einstein supposedly made this as accessible as he could, but made the limit
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May 09, 2007
Andrew
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Albert Einstein was a really smart motherfucker. He was smart not just because he was able to conceive of the theory of relativity (both the special and general theories) - he was working on things that people before him had already worked on. What was really smart about him is that he was able to make it all explicable - if not entirely comprehensible - to your average person.
I'm not going to go into the general and special theories of relativity, because I honestly only understand More...
I'm not going to go into the general and special theories of relativity, because I honestly only understand More...
Sep 21, 2011
Steve
rated it:
Its strange but Einstein once said "that you should be able to explain the universe to a barmaid." I cant quite express how strong this book is, the last essay is frighteningly brilliant and gives an illuminating view of the level of understanding that Albert reached.
Even if you are not into science this is an important work of pure clarity that should be recommended reading everywhere......
I love this book so take a chance you may gain more from it than you ex
Even if you are not into science this is an important work of pure clarity that should be recommended reading everywhere......
I love this book so take a chance you may gain more from it than you ex
Jan 14, 2008
Eli
rated it:
Sometimes it's best to get your info straight from the horse's mouth. Putting aside how utterly pretentious you'll look reading this book, it's a great encapsulation of Einstein's most important work into something most people will be able to understand.
Other summaries of relativity I've read by Hawking and Greene have been good but not as comprehensive. More dumbed-down versions are usually nothing more than analogies that offer no real insight.
As far as the math cre More...
Other summaries of relativity I've read by Hawking and Greene have been good but not as comprehensive. More dumbed-down versions are usually nothing more than analogies that offer no real insight.
As far as the math cre More...
Nov 22, 2007
Mark
rated it:
What's very interesting from this book is that it is really quite readable, very interesting.
And it is sort of interesting that it wasn't thought of before. It all evolves from the single idea that regardless of your relative position and motion that we essentially experience time and space the same way (which means that time and space morph). Light is the very interesting underlying constant that regardless of position or current angular or linear motion we all experience the sp More...
And it is sort of interesting that it wasn't thought of before. It all evolves from the single idea that regardless of your relative position and motion that we essentially experience time and space the same way (which means that time and space morph). Light is the very interesting underlying constant that regardless of position or current angular or linear motion we all experience the sp More...
Jan 13, 2009
Nick
rated it:
Wonderful description of Relativity by Einstein himself from a collection of his writings/papers. I remember reading this book with great joy (and some frustration.) The only major kink in it is Einstein's less-than-perfect English. While there are simpler introductions to Relativity out there, this one is one of the best purely because it comes straight from the man himself.
Feb 22, 2010
Natalie
rated it: 
The Theory of Relativity by Albert Einstein, published in 1916, transformed the way man viewed humanity and the natural world. In it the great physicist explains that space, time, and mass are not absolute, but relative to the observer. With absolutely no background in physics and with the aid of Einstein for Dummies I was able to understand about a third of this theory. It was painful. Nevertheless, I am glad I read this primary source and have a greater understanding of modernist thought.
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Dec 17, 2011
Philip
rated it:
I was surprised that I could actually follow this. It was written for the layman and despite the inclusion of quite a bit of algebra, which I didn't fully follow, the main theory is clearly described in physical terms. I also think I have seen so many programmes on TV about Einstein that most of it has been pre-learnt. Makes you think.
Oct 08, 2007
Max
rated it:
This book is as fun as solving a tough but innovative cryptogram, or a Rubik's Cube, or strict rules mystery novel - only instead of a contrived cryptographic system or whatever, the reader is up against the basic structure of the Unvierse. One way of understanding it anyway. A tough read in several parts, and it helps to have a pad on which to work out some of the math for yourself. The explanation of Gaussian coordinate systems was a little hard for me to follow, but I've wanted to figure o
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Feb 04, 2012
It's been over 10 years since I read this book, so the thing I remember most is just how dense the book is. I would read a sentence and have to re-read it several times to understand it. This happened over and over again. I was impressed at how concisely Einstein was able to convey such complexity.
Jan 14, 2009
Rob
rated it:
In my top ten!
Read the Dutch version ISBN 90 274 5379 9 Relativiteit
speciale en algemene theorie
Albert Einstein
Uitgeverij Het Spectrum
Utrecht/Antwerpen
Aulapocket 622
Bijna stukgelezen
Read the Dutch version ISBN 90 274 5379 9 Relativiteit
speciale en algemene theorie
Albert Einstein
Uitgeverij Het Spectrum
Utrecht/Antwerpen
Aulapocket 622
Bijna stukgelezen
Mar 14, 2009
Andrew
rated it:
The foundation of modern physics... Einstein came up with these theories and changed the way we view our world. Almost everyone knows of Einstein's intelligence, but what many don't know is how well he can teach. These theories are written as a teacher would try to explain to a student...not like one physicist talking to another. Yes, there is an assumption that the reader has a decent understanding of mathematics and physical concepts, but the reader does not need to have an advanced degree
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Dec 16, 2011
Guy
rated it:
As others have said before me, I would only recommend this book to those who have studied special and general relativity before. The theories themselves are not difficult to understand, but to attempt to understand them from this book alone is very difficult.
Dec 27, 2009
Marts (Thinker)
rated it:
Quite a good read, pivotal in its field, rather scientific, of course, and philosophical. Not recommended for persons not inclined to science, and preferably those who have already done preliminary physics studies, some mathematics is also involved, but kept to a minimum. The first part of the text covers the special theory and the second, the general theory.
Aug 16, 2011
Steve
rated it:
If you have ever wondered what would happen if you were in a spaceship travelling at the speed of light and you turned the headlights on would anything happen, then this is the book for you. Be warned though; even though this book does simplify Einstein’s general and special theories of relativity, the text here is still heavy going. There are lots of equations that made me remember why I took biology and chemistry as my science options at school and geology at college.
Nov 29, 2008
Jon
rated it:
This is a good book for someone who has a background in physics, but it would be quite technical for the common science reader. Unless you have a background in physics, algerbra and geometry, I would stay away from this book. I thought it was sweet though.
