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Relativity: The Special and the General Theory
An accesible version of Einstein's masterpiece of theory, written by the genius himself
According to Einstein himself, this book is intended "to give an exact insight into the theory of Relativity to those readers who, from a general scientific and philosophical point of view, are interested in the theory, but who are not conversant with the mathematical apparatus of theoretical physics." When he wrote the book in 1916, Einstein's name was scarcely known outside the physics institutes. Having just completed his masterpiece, The General Theory of Relativity—which provided a brand-new theory of gravity and promised a new perspective on the cosmos as a whole—he set out at once to share his excitement with as wide a public as possible in this popular and accessible book.
Here published for the first time as a Penguin Classic, this edition of Relativity features a new introduction by bestselling science author Nigel Calder.
According to Einstein himself, this book is intended "to give an exact insight into the theory of Relativity to those readers who, from a general scientific and philosophical point of view, are interested in the theory, but who are not conversant with the mathematical apparatus of theoretical physics." When he wrote the book in 1916, Einstein's name was scarcely known outside the physics institutes. Having just completed his masterpiece, The General Theory of Relativity—which provided a brand-new theory of gravity and promised a new perspective on the cosmos as a whole—he set out at once to share his excitement with as wide a public as possible in this popular and accessible book.
Here published for the first time as a Penguin Classic, this edition of Relativity features a new introduction by bestselling science author Nigel Calder.
130 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1916
About the author
Albert Einstein
998 books9,742 followersSpecial and general theories of relativity of German-born American theoretical physicist Albert Einstein revolutionized modern thought on the nature of space and time and formed a base for the exploitation of atomic energy; he won a Nobel Prize of 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
His paper of 1905 formed the basis of electronics. His first paper, also published in 1905, changed the world.
He completed his Philosophiae Doctor at the University of Zurich before 1909.
Einstein, a pacifist during World War I, stayed a firm proponent of social justice and responsibility.
Einstein thought that Newtonion mechanics no longer enough reconciled the laws of classical mechanics with those of the electromagnetic field. This thought led to the development. He recognized, however, that he ably also extended the principle to gravitational fields and with his subsequent theory of gravitation in 1916 published a paper. He continued to deal with problems of statistical mechanics and quantum theory, which led to his explanations of particle theory and the motion of molecules. He also investigated the thermal properties of light, which laid the foundation of the photon.
Best known for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2, dubbed "the world's most famous equation," he received "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect". The latter was pivotal in establishing quantum theory.
He visited the United States when Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 and went not back to Germany. On the eve of World War II, he endorsed a letter, alerting Franklin Delano Roosevelt, president, to the potential development of "extremely powerful bombs of a new type" and recommending that the United States begin similar research. This recommendation eventually led to the Manhattan project. Einstein supported defending the Allied forces but largely denounced the idea of using the newly discovered nuclear fission as a weapon. Later, with Bertrand Russell–Einstein manifesto highlighted the danger of nuclear weapons.
After the rise of the Nazi party, Einstein made Princeton his permanent home as a citizen of United States in 1940. He chaired the emergency committee of atomic scientists, which organized to alert the public to the dangers of warfare.
At a symposium, he advised:
("Science, Philosophy and Religion, A Symposium," published by the Conference on Science, Philosophy and Religion in their Relation to the Democratic Way of Life, Inc., New York, 1941).
In a letter to philosopher Eric Gutkind, dated 3 January 1954, Einstein stated:
(The Guardian, "Childish superstition: Einstein's letter makes view of religion relatively clear," by James Randerson, May 13, 2008)
Great intellectual achievements and originality made the word "Einstein" synonymous with genius.
The institute for advanced study in Princeton, New Jersey, affiliated Einstein until his death in 1955.
More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_E...
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobe
His paper of 1905 formed the basis of electronics. His first paper, also published in 1905, changed the world.
He completed his Philosophiae Doctor at the University of Zurich before 1909.
Einstein, a pacifist during World War I, stayed a firm proponent of social justice and responsibility.
Einstein thought that Newtonion mechanics no longer enough reconciled the laws of classical mechanics with those of the electromagnetic field. This thought led to the development. He recognized, however, that he ably also extended the principle to gravitational fields and with his subsequent theory of gravitation in 1916 published a paper. He continued to deal with problems of statistical mechanics and quantum theory, which led to his explanations of particle theory and the motion of molecules. He also investigated the thermal properties of light, which laid the foundation of the photon.
Best known for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2, dubbed "the world's most famous equation," he received "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect". The latter was pivotal in establishing quantum theory.
He visited the United States when Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 and went not back to Germany. On the eve of World War II, he endorsed a letter, alerting Franklin Delano Roosevelt, president, to the potential development of "extremely powerful bombs of a new type" and recommending that the United States begin similar research. This recommendation eventually led to the Manhattan project. Einstein supported defending the Allied forces but largely denounced the idea of using the newly discovered nuclear fission as a weapon. Later, with Bertrand Russell–Einstein manifesto highlighted the danger of nuclear weapons.
After the rise of the Nazi party, Einstein made Princeton his permanent home as a citizen of United States in 1940. He chaired the emergency committee of atomic scientists, which organized to alert the public to the dangers of warfare.
At a symposium, he advised:
"In their struggle for the ethical good, teachers of religion must have the stature to give up the doctrine of a personal God, that is, give up that source of fear and hope which in the past placed such vast power in the hands of priests. In their labors they will have to avail themselves of those forces which are capable of cultivating the Good, the True, and the Beautiful in humanity itself. This is, to be sure a more difficult but an incomparably more worthy task... "
("Science, Philosophy and Religion, A Symposium," published by the Conference on Science, Philosophy and Religion in their Relation to the Democratic Way of Life, Inc., New York, 1941).
In a letter to philosopher Eric Gutkind, dated 3 January 1954, Einstein stated:
"The word god is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this."
(The Guardian, "Childish superstition: Einstein's letter makes view of religion relatively clear," by James Randerson, May 13, 2008)
Great intellectual achievements and originality made the word "Einstein" synonymous with genius.
The institute for advanced study in Princeton, New Jersey, affiliated Einstein until his death in 1955.
More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_E...
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobe
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 7, 2026
Il testo è incredibilmente affascinante.
È sufficiente per avere un'infarinatura dei concetti chiave. Non si può certo pretendere di 'capire' la relatività generale o ristretta, le conseguenze e le premesse, da questa sola lettura, ma non sarebbe neanche l'intento del testo. Ho sicuramente più chiara la relatività ristretta che quella generale, ma non so se sia un limite mio, un difetto del libro, o un'effettiva maggiore complessità.
Comunque una lettura forse necessaria, per capire temi che oggi sono 'sulla bocca di tutti'.
È sufficiente per avere un'infarinatura dei concetti chiave. Non si può certo pretendere di 'capire' la relatività generale o ristretta, le conseguenze e le premesse, da questa sola lettura, ma non sarebbe neanche l'intento del testo. Ho sicuramente più chiara la relatività ristretta che quella generale, ma non so se sia un limite mio, un difetto del libro, o un'effettiva maggiore complessità.
Comunque una lettura forse necessaria, per capire temi che oggi sono 'sulla bocca di tutti'.
April 28, 2023
Questo è stato il primo libro che ho letto seriamente a partire dal 2023; mi è stato consigliato da un professore universitario di fisica. Questo libro tratta molti degli aspetti della fisica, forse a volte in modo leggermente confusionario (sopratutto la parte finale, dove si parla di quanti campo e relatività, che non può essere riassunta un centinaio scarso di pagine).
Durante tutto il libro c'è questo tema da "romanzo giallo" dove si cerca, in veste di scienziato, di trovare le ragioni che generano un determinato fenomeno.
Durante tutto il libro c'è questo tema da "romanzo giallo" dove si cerca, in veste di scienziato, di trovare le ragioni che generano un determinato fenomeno.
January 24, 2021
Scritto dallo stesso Einstein in cui spiega con formule annesse la teoria che ha rivoluzionato la fisica.
April 30, 2023
Una ottima esposizione, anche se a volte mancano riferimenti nei formalismi matematici. Per esempio, nella nota sulla derivazione delle trasformazioni di Lorentz. Nonostante tutto, immenso.
August 19, 2024
Carino, però un po’ troppo superficiale, divulgativo. Anche gli altri trattatini presenti nel libro sono un po’ noiosi e superficiali.
July 10, 2025
Beh, dare un giudizio ad Einstein è abbastanza strano. Un commento che mi sento di dare è che la lettura del libro, relativemente breve, è molto agevole e la comprensione dei vari concetti si suddivide in vari livelli via via più complicati, e penso che per scalare i quali servono più letture magari integrati con opere più recenti.
November 26, 2015
Sul libro posso dire poco, solo che gli esempi di Einstein permettono di capire concetti veramente complessi senza dover leggere una seconda volta il paragrafo. Ovviamente Einstein prende per certi alcuni concetti basiliari di trigonometria e calcolo infinitesimale, rendendo così la lettura difficile per i meno esperti. Insomma non lo stile zero-formule di Hawking. La cosa stupefacente però è che si riesce a seguire perfettamente il ragionamento di Einstein, e da una semplice confutazione della meccanica classica si arriva si arriva a costruire la relatività generale.
L'edizione della Bollati-Boringheri aggiunge poi alcuni brevi saggi che mostrano come sia evoluto il concetto di spazio, tempo e campo da Cartesio ad Einsten.
L'edizione della Bollati-Boringheri aggiunge poi alcuni brevi saggi che mostrano come sia evoluto il concetto di spazio, tempo e campo da Cartesio ad Einsten.
January 11, 2011
A parte il testo che da il titolo al libro, questo tomo contiene molti altri testi originali di precursori della teoria (Maxwell, Reimann, Poincaré, Lorentz, ed altri), il che lo rende del tutto eccezionale.
October 25, 2015
Niente di meglio che capire la relatività attraverso le parole del vecchio Albert
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews