What Are the Best Books for Understanding Special Relativity?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around recommendations for books that effectively explain and teach the concepts of Special Relativity (SR). Participants share their opinions on various texts, considering factors such as readability, pedagogical value, and the relevance of the material to experimental evidence.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests recommendations for good books on Special Relativity.
  • Several participants recommend "Spacetime Physics" by E. F. Taylor and J. A. Wheeler, citing its effectiveness.
  • Another participant critiques A. P. French's "Special Relativity," arguing it is outdated and lacks engagement, particularly in relation to experimental tests of SR.
  • A participant expresses a preference for the first edition of Taylor and Wheeler's book, noting it includes solutions to problems, unlike later editions.
  • Thomas Moore's "A Traveler's Guide To Spacetime" is suggested as a more accessible introduction to SR.
  • N. David Mermin's "Space and Time in Special Relativity" is mentioned as a valuable addition, with a note that its updated version may be seen as less rigorous.
  • Richard Wolfson's "Simply Einstein: Relativity Demystified" is also recommended as a resource.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the value of Taylor and Wheeler's book, but there are differing opinions regarding the relevance and quality of A. P. French's work. Multiple competing views on the best introductory texts for Special Relativity remain present.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express preferences based on personal experiences with different editions of the same book, highlighting the subjective nature of their recommendations. There is also mention of specific experimental tests that may not be covered in older texts.

edpell
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I think I need a good book(s) on SR. Please let me know which you think are good. Thanks.
 
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* E. F. Taylor, J. A. Wheeler, “Spacetime Physics“, W. H. Freeman (2nd edition, 1992).
* A. P. French, “Special Relativity“, W. W. Norton & Company (1968).
* W. Rindler, “Introduction to Special Relativity“, Oxford University Press (2nd ed. 1991).
 


Thank you xantox
 
I second xantox's suggestion of Taylor and Wheeler. French is 40 years out of date, and that's a long time, especially when it comes to the connection with experiment; it predates some the classic, conceptually direct tests of SR that I think are the best pedagogically (Hafele-Keating's atomic clocks on airplanes, and the CERN high-precision muon decay experiment). IMO French's style is dull and cumbersome.
 
I third Taylor and Wheeler, but I like the (red) paperback version of the first edition. I forget why I prefer the first edition over later later edition(s) (I have compared editions). I prefer the paperback version over the hardcover version of the first edition because the paperback edition has solutions (not just answers) to the problems. My battered and beaten copy (I got it while in high school) is in the bottom left of

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=1897989#post1897989.

Another introduction to special relativity that I really like is A Traveler's Guide To Spacetime: An introduction to the Special Theory of Relativity by Thomas Moore. Moore's book is maybe a little easier to read than Taylor and Wheeler.
 
George Jones said:
I third Taylor and Wheeler, but I like the (red) paperback version of the first edition. I forget why I prefer the first edition over later later edition(s)

No rapidity in the 2nd edition.

To the books already mentioned, I'd add N. David Mermin's Space and Time in Special Relativity. This was updated (or watered down depending on your perspective) as
It's About Time: Understanding Einstein's Relativity.
 
Daverz said:
To the books already mentioned, I'd add N. David Mermin's Space and Time in Special Relativity. This was updated (or watered down depending on your perspective) as
It's About Time: Understanding Einstein's Relativity.
I'll second the recommendation for both of Mermin's books. They sit side by side on my shelf.
 
Thanks all. I anxiously await my Amazon delivery.
 
Definitely John A. Wheeler's "Spacetime Physics"
 
  • #10
Also, Richard Wolfson's "Simply Einstein: Relativity Demystified"
 

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