Which textbook is best for studying gravitation and cosmology?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter folksong
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the selection of textbooks for studying gravitation and cosmology, specifically comparing "Gravitation and Cosmology" by Weinberg with "Gravitation" by Misner, Thorne, and Wheeler. Participants share their opinions on the suitability of these texts for students and suggest alternatives.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asks which textbook, between Weinberg and MTW, is better for students.
  • Another participant notes that both textbooks are standard but suggests that they are becoming outdated, with MTW being large and thorough while Weinberg is more concise, assuming the reader is comfortable with tensors.
  • A participant humorously questions the characterization of Wheeler's book as 'getting a bit old', indicating a light-hearted tone in the discussion.
  • One participant reflects on the age of textbooks in general, implying that many used texts may be considered outdated.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the age and relevance of the textbooks mentioned, with no consensus on which book is definitively better for students.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the reader's familiarity with tensors and the criteria for evaluating the textbooks are not explicitly stated. The discussion does not resolve the question of which textbook is superior.

folksong
Two books,"Weinberg:Gravitation and Cosmology ,and Charles W. Misner,Kip S. Throne and John Archibald Wheeler :Gravitation",
Which one is better for a student?
Thanks
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
They are both standard texts, although getting a little old now. MTW is very large but thorough, Weinberg concise if you can handle tensors well. Try Wald "General Relativity" UCP as well.

Garth
 
Hey, what do you mean by Wheeler is 'getting a bit old'? Just wait till I report this to the AARP.
 
Any textbook I used must be getting old by now!

Garth
 
Garth said:
Any textbook I used must be getting old by now!

Garth

unless its at light speed! :biggrin:

Ok that wasn't funny..I'll shut up now.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Gravitation (MTW) Misner Thorne Wheeler - 50 years (RIP) C.W.Misner
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Graduate Interactive Galactic Dynamics Textbook -- Bovy 2022
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • Poll Poll
Relativity Gravitation by Misner, Thorne and Wheeler
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
25K
Undergrad Energy conservation in Doppler (NOT cosmological) redshifts?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K
Relativity What are the necessary prerequisites for understanding Gravitation?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Graduate Differential Forms or Tensors for Theoretical Physics Today
  • · Replies 70 ·
3
Replies
70
Views
17K
Discover the Ultimate Guide: Gravitation by Misner, Thorne, and Wheeler
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Undergrad Cosmological Redshift: Distinguishing From Doppler Effect
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
5K
Gravitation Charles Misner, Kip Thorne in Polish
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
5K
Graduate Falsifications and constraints due to GW measurements
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
6K