Can I learn SR & GR from the advanced theoretical physics textbook by Nick Lucid?

[Hamiltonian]

I recently came across a book called advanced theoretical physics -nick lucid. chap6 covers tensors and chap 7&8 cover SR&GR. I have studied a bit of SR before but never GR. At this point in life I don't want to read huge books on the subject. this book covers relativity entirely in three relatively small chapters. Does the book rush through these chapters? or does it require a prior introduction to it? the preface states its meant for undergrad students and that "this book is not intended for anyone without at least some background in basic calculus and introductory physics."

 

[jedishrfu]

In general, I've found that no one book can give you true mastery of any subject with GR being no exception. It can take a long time to master GR solving as many problems as you can to gain insight into how it works. Basically you need to understand the concepts behind Differential Geometry to get a feeling for the special geometry of GR.

 

[haushofer]

What's your learning goal, concretely?

To add to Jedishfru: different books give different perspectives and emphases. I only know Lucid's YT channel, and that's really good and great fun.

And fun is often underrated in physics textbooks.

 

[Frabjous]

With short articles, you generally need to fill in all of the steps in order to learn. This can be time consuming. I am not familiar with this particular reference.

I am not sure what you goals are, but you might consider these two books which are written with lower mathematical expectations
Gravity from the Ground Up by Schutz
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521455065/?tag=pfamazon01-20
Exploring Black Holes by Taylor and Wheeler
https://www.eftaylor.com/exploringblackholes/

 

[Hamiltonian]

What's your learning goal, concretely?

I just want to have a taste of relativity before entering uni next year, so there is a bit of a time crunch! that's why I am not following the more conventional books and resources to go about learning the subject.

 

[haushofer]

Ok. I don't know Lucid's book, but Schutz's From the ground up is excellent, right in between high school and university level.

 

[jedishrfu]

For a taste of relativity that is not popsci try Susskinds book:

Special Relativity and Classical Field Theory (part of his Theoretical Minimum series)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1541674065/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[Dr Transport]

I just want to have a taste of relativity before entering uni next year, so there is a bit of a time crunch! that's why I am not following the more conventional books and resources to go about learning the subject.

If you are just graduating high school, I'd concentrate on what you'd see in the first couple of years of university, not what you'd see in an advanced 4th year or graduate school. You got a long way to go.

 

[ergospherical]

I just want to have a taste of relativity before entering uni next year

You can access part of a first year lecture series on dynamics and relativity by Prof Tong at
https://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/tong/relativity/seven.pdf

 

[Ibix]

Sean Carroll has a 24-page "no nonsense" intro to GR: https://preposterousuniverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/grtinypdf.pdf. Probably needs to be read in concert with other stuff, but I quite like his presentation.

 

[vela]

I recently came across a book called advanced theoretical physics -nick lucid. chap6 covers tensors and chap 7&8 cover SR&GR. I have studied a bit of SR before but never GR. At this point in life I don't want to read huge books on the subject. this book covers relativity entirely in three relatively small chapters. Does the book rush through these chapters? or does it require a prior introduction to it? the preface states its meant for undergrad students and that "this book is not intended for anyone without at least some background in basic calculus and introductory physics."

Judging from the sample posted on Gumroad, I'd think you'd find this book relatively terse if you haven't seen these topics before. It would be good for review, for refreshing your memory on a topic, or clarifying notions in your mind, but I don't think it would be a good resource on its own to learn SR or GR from. There's a reason why people have written entire books on each topic.