Questions regarding special relativity.

[MidgetDwarf]

I recently found and interest in physics after reading KK Introductory Mechanics. I was thinking of learning EnM from Purcell. From my reading of these forums. Purcell introduces Max. Equations using special relativity. I do not know anything about SR (you can I am a virgin at physics).

I read that T.M helliwell was a good place to start, and Wheeler also.

I found a copy of Helliwell for 6 dollars, it is the 1960's edition (maybe 1st), it is 209 pages compared to the newer 300 and something. Should I get the older one are the 100 pages substantial information not present in the first edition.Does anyone have better alternatives? I don't want to actually read a special relativity book with the same rigor as say Spivak Calculus at this moment. Just enough to have an understanding of what is happening in Purcell. Thanks

 

[cpsinkule]

Griffith's is a decent introduction to both.

 

[bphysics12]

I actually found this book to be nice for SR:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0072397144/?tag=pfamazon01-20
It's not completely thorough, merely a great introduction to Lorentz transformations and things like that. It absolutely covers everything used by Purcell, and then Purcell has a brief (~5 pg) overview of the SR needed to work through the E&M problems.