Finding a Good Book on GR: Experiences & Resources

[BiGyElLoWhAt]

What is a good book on GR? I have a good amount of experience with SR, and have spent a good deal of time researching GR, from Wikipedia, to PDF's, and youtube videos. I am moderately comfortable with Tensors, but a book that covers them in depth would be nice, not necessary, however. (I can look things up as I go if I run into problems with the maths).

I started reading Øyvind Grøn's book on PDF, is anyone familiar with that?
Ok, I guess they're lecture notes:
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=øyvind+grøn+GR+PDF

It's been interesting, but I don't know if better material exists. I'm definitely not afraid to struggle, but I think I have a good enough conceptual understanding that if I do struggle, it will be in the maths.

Thanks in advance!

 

[PWiz]

I'd say Wald's General Relativity and the MTW are great for a mathematically rigorous formulation of GR, although they're a bit old.

 

[BiGyElLoWhAt]

Old just means it will look cooler on my physics/math collection book shelf ;)

 

[PWiz]

Old just means it will look cooler on my physics/math collection book shelf ;)

They're fat too (seriously), so you'll have to make quite a bit of space on your shelf.

 

[BiGyElLoWhAt]

Haha, it's mostly empty, thus far. I have about a dozen or a dozen and a half books, so there's more than enough room.

 

[DevacDave]

I would add W. Thirring "Mathematical Physics", volumes 1 and 2 (solid introduction to classical and relativistic field theory in the language of differential forms and manifold calculus). If not as a main resource, than to at least expand/clarify maths in other books. Rather old, but among my all-time favourites.

Plus it has a fair number of problems with solutions.

 

[BiGyElLoWhAt]

That sounds great! Is the title simply Mathematical Physics? I can find Quantum Mathematical Physics by Thirring, but can't seem to find MP vol 1 and 2.

 

[DevacDave]

That sounds great! Is the title simply Mathematical Physics? I can find Quantum Mathematical Physics by Thirring, but can't seem to find MP vol 1 and 2.

No, sorry. I have assumed that they used titles as in original (German) edition. It's this https://www.amazon.com/dp/0387406158/?tag=pfamazon01-20 ; Classical Mathematical Physics, Dynamical Systems and Field Theories. Original four volumes were, as it seems, glued together into Classical (vol 1 and 2) and Quantum (vol 3 and 4) Mathematical Physics. Excuse faulty assumption.

Addendum: It should be worth mentioning that this is quite literally mathematical physics, it is assumed that you know the basics on topics at hand and want to see more in-depth applications of differential geometry, methods of approach and solution of some of the most important cases and such. It's less of a textbook on GR or classical field theory and more of a toolbox for rigorous solutions and mathematics behind them. Featured five-star reviews in the linked Amazon page are very true to what I want to convey.