An introductory book on general relativity

[clumps tim]

hi fellas,

I want my undergrad thesis on general relativity. I need a good book on einstein field equations and its exact solutions to work with. also a book where are some solved problems and some exercises to guide me to right track
any suggestions ?
regards

 

[Nugatory]

For an undergraduate-level treatment of GR, you could do worse than Hartle:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0805386629/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[kroni]

General Relativity by hobson, efstathiou and lasenby. It is clear but not too simple. Well explained and there is some exercise for each chapter.

 

[porcupine137]

hi fellas,

I want my undergrad thesis on general relativity. I need a good book on einstein field equations and its exact solutions to work with. also a book where are some solved problems and some exercises to guide me to right track
any suggestions ?
regards

Hartle
Carroll
Schutz
Dirac (very small book)
Zee

Problem Book in Relativity and Gravitation by A. Lightman

 

[guitarphysics]

I agree with the Hartle suggestion- I think it's by far the best introductory book on GR (especially for an undergrad). If you want a bit more math maybe go with Schutz, but even then you should look into Hartle.

Also, you might enjoy these lectures (I haven't watched them myself but I assume they're ok- the SR ones were pretty good, and also quite gentle): http://theoreticalminimum.com/courses/general-relativity/2012/fall

 

[atyy]

On exact solutions there are:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1107406188/?tag=pfamazon01-20 (this is quite easy to understand)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521467020/?tag=pfamazon01-20 (an older classic)

 

[vanhees71]

I once learned GR from Landau/Lifshitz vol. II. It also provides the necessary math of tensor calculus in pseudo-Riemannian spacetime (in the good old Ricci calculus; later you can learn the more refined modern ways via differential forms).

Another very good book is Gravitation and Cosmology by S. Weinberg. For the cosmology, however you should read his more modern treatment from 2008.

 

[nrqed]

hi fellas,

I want my undergrad thesis on general relativity. I need a good book on einstein field equations and its exact solutions to work with. also a book where are some solved problems and some exercises to guide me to right track
any suggestions ?
regards

I would strongly suggest starting with Wheeler and Taylor's book on black holes (very pedagogical and friendly) and Hartle, as starting points. After you have digested these two you can move on to the more advanced books suggested in the other replies.

 

[Daverz]

If you want to know everything about the Kerr solution, there's the recent Dover re-issue of Barrett O'Neill's book:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0486493423/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[JonnyMaddox]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0716703440/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[nrqed]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0716703440/?tag=pfamazon01-20

This is NOT a book to read as a first book on the subject.

 

[whyevengothere]

John Dirk Walecka's books are very good for this :https://www.amazon.com/dp/9812705856/?tag=pfamazon01-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/9812812253/?tag=pfamazon01-20