Not worth it....There are better books out there, 04 Nov 2007
I own this book and so I use it and to be fair it has most of the stuff you need for Special relativity in it. BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF BOOKS ON SPECIAL RELATIVITY. This book only has like 100 and something odd pages in it. So just photocopying it would be cheaper. (Don't, buying books is always much nicer). But the point is its not value for money. There are lots of other Special relativity books and ones with more problems with worked solutions. So I would look around in a library or online for one that will be of more use. Plus this book's layout is pretty old looking and needs a better font type etc.

In summary its a nice small book but there are lots of better ones out there.

A very nice technical introduction to the Theory of Special Relativity., 25 Sep 2007
This book is a technical introduction written for people who have an undergraduate mathematical and classical physics (mechanics, electrodynamics) background but no prior knowledge of the Special Theory of Relativity.

The most prominent characteristic of this introduction is its more intuitive three dimensional approach of this unique theory of space and time. By this I mean that even though the four dimensional formalism of Special Relativity is fully presented with the appropriate tensor calculus, the writer prefers to point out the underlying three dimensional physics rather than the abstract space time formalism whose mastering is of course impertinent for a subsequent study of General Relativity. It is this wonderful feature which renders the book as an introduction and not a terrifying formalistic technical document for advanced readers.

One more thing that supports this approach is the reference and study of many of the so called "paradoxes". By giving the explanation of these paradoxes the writer succeeds to persuade the reader that the Theory of Special Relativity doesn't have anything to do with metaphysical phenomena of shrinking rods and clocks loosing their pace but it is a very logical theory about coincidences of events. When this fact is fully understood then one starts to wonder how mistaken and artificial were our previous notions about absolute space and time.

"Introduction to Special Relativity" is a self-consistent book containing all the needed mathematical calculus of tensors in a relevant appendix.

Last but not least is the excellent collection of exercises bonded in harmony with the theory previously presented in each chapter. These exercises are very carefully chosen in a way to support and extent the theory. The reader must try to solve as much of them as possible because they are equally valuable and educational with the rest of the text.

I recommend this beautiful and well written book to any beginner who wants to understand the physics of the Theory of Special Relativity and not just learn how to play with four dimensional symbols. I also recommend this book to tutors who I believe will find a lot of ideas on how to present the seemingly abstract ideas of this theory without causing terror and confusion to their students.

Contents
1. The foundations of Special Relativity
2. Relativistic kinematics
3. Relativistic optics
4. Spacetime
5. Mechanics of relativistic particles
6. Electromagnetics in vacuum
7. Relativistic Mechanics of continous media.

Appendix
Tensors in Special Relativity

Not worth it....There are better books out there, 04 Nov 2007
I own this book and so I use it and to be fair it has most of the stuff you need for Special relativity in it. BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF BOOKS ON SPECIAL RELATIVITY. This book only has like 100 and something odd pages in it. So just photocopying it would be cheaper. (Don't, buying books is always much nicer). But the point is its not value for money. There are lots of other Special relativity books and ones with more problems with worked solutions. So I would look around in a library or online for one that will be of more use. Plus this book's layout is pretty old looking and needs a better font type etc.

In summary its a nice small book but there are lots of better ones out there.

A very nice technical introduction to the Theory of Special Relativity., 25 Sep 2007
This book is a technical introduction written for people who have an undergraduate mathematical and classical physics (mechanics, electrodynamics) background but no prior knowledge of the Special Theory of Relativity.

The most prominent characteristic of this introduction is its more intuitive three dimensional approach of this unique theory of space and time. By this I mean that even though the four dimensional formalism of Special Relativity is fully presented with the appropriate tensor calculus, the writer prefers to point out the underlying three dimensional physics rather than the abstract space time formalism whose mastering is of course impertinent for a subsequent study of General Relativity. It is this wonderful feature which renders the book as an introduction and not a terrifying formalistic technical document for advanced readers.

One more thing that supports this approach is the reference and study of many of the so called "paradoxes". By giving the explanation of these paradoxes the writer succeeds to persuade the reader that the Theory of Special Relativity doesn't have anything to do with metaphysical phenomena of shrinking rods and clocks loosing their pace but it is a very logical theory about coincidences of events. When this fact is fully understood then one starts to wonder how mistaken and artificial were our previous notions about absolute space and time.

"Introduction to Special Relativity" is a self-consistent book containing all the needed mathematical calculus of tensors in a relevant appendix.

Last but not least is the excellent collection of exercises bonded in harmony with the theory previously presented in each chapter. These exercises are very carefully chosen in a way to support and extent the theory. The reader must try to solve as much of them as possible because they are equally valuable and educational with the rest of the text.

I recommend this beautiful and well written book to any beginner who wants to understand the physics of the Theory of Special Relativity and not just learn how to play with four dimensional symbols. I also recommend this book to tutors who I believe will find a lot of ideas on how to present the seemingly abstract ideas of this theory without causing terror and confusion to their students.

Contents
1. The foundations of Special Relativity
2. Relativistic kinematics
3. Relativistic optics
4. Spacetime
5. Mechanics of relativistic particles
6. Electromagnetics in vacuum
7. Relativistic Mechanics of continous media.

Appendix
Tensors in Special Relativity

A brilliant, intuitive introduction to special relativity, 18 Apr 2007
This book is a masterpiece in science writing - it explains the basic principles of the special theory of relativity in a very very clear way. I read it when i was 16 and still at high school, and i think it was one of the key books (along with "the quantum universe") that lead me to study physics at university. It explains conceptually difficult issues thoroughly, and then moves on to the mathematics.

Advanced students will find this book plodding - it's strength is as a guide for people who are new to university level physics.

All in all a great introduction to special relativity!

Great introduction to relativity, 05 May 2006
This is a fantastic book mainly aimed at the more popular science reader, it does explain the concepts in a clear and concise manner with some superb illustrations which really aid with your understanding. This is a great place to start, however if you are an undergraduate in theoretical physics or doing a relativity module in 2nd or 3rd year physics degree i doubt this will be enough, especially on the mathematical content. All in all i think this book explains a great deal to the intended Audience. Great book

The best introduction to Special Relativity, 20 May 2001
This is not an advanced text, and it does not use either tensors or manifolds. It is simply a great presentation of special relativity concepts, with many examples, exercises and points of view. Its approach is not based on a complicated mathematical background. With figures and excelent explanations by Wheeler (co-author of the bible of relativity: "Gravitation"). The prerequisites are elementary calculus and physical intuition. I also recommend "Exploring Black Holes" by the same authors, which treats with the general theory of relativity and it can be considered as a continuation of "SpaceTime physics".

Brilliant!. Would help anyone studying relativity., 03 Nov 2000
This book is the best I have read on special relativity. It is brilliantly written and is a really interesting read. Unlike many other books I have read on the subject this book made everything really clear and easy, and with lots of examples and practise questions you really do master the foundations of special relativity!. The book also focuses on giving the reader a deep knowledge of the theory not just telling you how to answer questions therefore giving you a wonderful insight to the way the world works! This book is unmissable if you want a deep understanding and appreciation of the special theory of relativity!.

Not worth it....There are better books out there, 04 Nov 2007
I own this book and so I use it and to be fair it has most of the stuff you need for Special relativity in it. BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF BOOKS ON SPECIAL RELATIVITY. This book only has like 100 and something odd pages in it. So just photocopying it would be cheaper. (Don't, buying books is always much nicer). But the point is its not value for money. There are lots of other Special relativity books and ones with more problems with worked solutions. So I would look around in a library or online for one that will be of more use. Plus this book's layout is pretty old looking and needs a better font type etc.

In summary its a nice small book but there are lots of better ones out there.

A very nice technical introduction to the Theory of Special Relativity., 25 Sep 2007
This book is a technical introduction written for people who have an undergraduate mathematical and classical physics (mechanics, electrodynamics) background but no prior knowledge of the Special Theory of Relativity.

The most prominent characteristic of this introduction is its more intuitive three dimensional approach of this unique theory of space and time. By this I mean that even though the four dimensional formalism of Special Relativity is fully presented with the appropriate tensor calculus, the writer prefers to point out the underlying three dimensional physics rather than the abstract space time formalism whose mastering is of course impertinent for a subsequent study of General Relativity. It is this wonderful feature which renders the book as an introduction and not a terrifying formalistic technical document for advanced readers.

One more thing that supports this approach is the reference and study of many of the so called "paradoxes". By giving the explanation of these paradoxes the writer succeeds to persuade the reader that the Theory of Special Relativity doesn't have anything to do with metaphysical phenomena of shrinking rods and clocks loosing their pace but it is a very logical theory about coincidences of events. When this fact is fully understood then one starts to wonder how mistaken and artificial were our previous notions about absolute space and time.

"Introduction to Special Relativity" is a self-consistent book containing all the needed mathematical calculus of tensors in a relevant appendix.

Last but not least is the excellent collection of exercises bonded in harmony with the theory previously presented in each chapter. These exercises are very carefully chosen in a way to support and extent the theory. The reader must try to solve as much of them as possible because they are equally valuable and educational with the rest of the text.

I recommend this beautiful and well written book to any beginner who wants to understand the physics of the Theory of Special Relativity and not just learn how to play with four dimensional symbols. I also recommend this book to tutors who I believe will find a lot of ideas on how to present the seemingly abstract ideas of this theory without causing terror and confusion to their students.

Contents
1. The foundations of Special Relativity
2. Relativistic kinematics
3. Relativistic optics
4. Spacetime
5. Mechanics of relativistic particles
6. Electromagnetics in vacuum
7. Relativistic Mechanics of continous media.

Appendix
Tensors in Special Relativity

A brilliant, intuitive introduction to special relativity, 18 Apr 2007
This book is a masterpiece in science writing - it explains the basic principles of the special theory of relativity in a very very clear way. I read it when i was 16 and still at high school, and i think it was one of the key books (along with "the quantum universe") that lead me to study physics at university. It explains conceptually difficult issues thoroughly, and then moves on to the mathematics.

Advanced students will find this book plodding - it's strength is as a guide for people who are new to university level physics.

All in all a great introduction to special relativity!

Great introduction to relativity, 05 May 2006
This is a fantastic book mainly aimed at the more popular science reader, it does explain the concepts in a clear and concise manner with some superb illustrations which really aid with your understanding. This is a great place to start, however if you are an undergraduate in theoretical physics or doing a relativity module in 2nd or 3rd year physics degree i doubt this will be enough, especially on the mathematical content. All in all i think this book explains a great deal to the intended Audience. Great book

The best introduction to Special Relativity, 20 May 2001
This is not an advanced text, and it does not use either tensors or manifolds. It is simply a great presentation of special relativity concepts, with many examples, exercises and points of view. Its approach is not based on a complicated mathematical background. With figures and excelent explanations by Wheeler (co-author of the bible of relativity: "Gravitation"). The prerequisites are elementary calculus and physical intuition. I also recommend "Exploring Black Holes" by the same authors, which treats with the general theory of relativity and it can be considered as a continuation of "SpaceTime physics".

Brilliant!. Would help anyone studying relativity., 03 Nov 2000
This book is the best I have read on special relativity. It is brilliantly written and is a really interesting read. Unlike many other books I have read on the subject this book made everything really clear and easy, and with lots of examples and practise questions you really do master the foundations of special relativity!. The book also focuses on giving the reader a deep knowledge of the theory not just telling you how to answer questions therefore giving you a wonderful insight to the way the world works! This book is unmissable if you want a deep understanding and appreciation of the special theory of relativity!.

A first bad encounter, 16 Apr 2008
This book intends to be a first encounter with special theory of relativity but it does a very bad job. It has several mistakes in the text, it introduces Minkovsky plots without explaining how they are constructed, it does not explain well the derivations of some central results. Reading it is a waste of time.