Picture 1 of 2
Stock photo
Picture 1 of 2
Stock photo
It's about Time : Understanding Einstein's Relativity by N. David Mermin (2009, Trade Paperback)
Wonderland Bookseller (2700)
100% positive feedback
Price:
$6.99
+ $4.99 shipping
Returns:
Condition:
Understanding Einstein's Relativity.
- Buy It NowIT'S ABOUT TIME Understanding Einstein's Relativity N.DAVID MERMIN Physics NEW
Oops! Looks like we're having trouble connecting to our server.
Refresh your browser window to try again.
About this product
Product Identifiers
PublisherPrinceton University Press
ISBN-100691141274
ISBN-139780691141275
eBay Product ID (ePID)71653553
Product Key Features
Number of Pages208 Pages
Publication NameIt's about Time : Understanding Einstein's Relativity
LanguageEnglish
Publication Year2009
SubjectTime, Physics / Relativity, Physics / General
TypeTextbook
Subject AreaScience
AuthorN. David Mermin
FormatTrade Paperback
Dimensions
Item Height0.6 in
Item Weight11.4 Oz
Item Length9.2 in
Item Width6.1 in
Additional Product Features
Intended AudienceCollege Audience
Dewey Edition22
Reviews"This is a book full of insight with an engaging style. I recommend it to anyone who has to teach the subject to either [non scientists or undergraduate and graduate students]: it's a brilliant basis for a set of lecture notes."-- Derek Raine, Nature, Mermin has taught relativity for 40 years and has clearly thought about the best way to teach the subject." It's About Time" offers a serious, yet accessible approach to relativity., Requiring nothing more than a basic understanding of algebra, [this book] provides the clearest and most insightful treatment of special relativity I've ever encountered. . . . It's About Time brings the practice and foundation of physics together through the question of time. ---Arkady Plotnitsky, Foundations of Physics, This is a book full of insight with an engaging style. I recommend it to anyone who has to teach the subject to either [non scientists or undergraduate and graduate students]: it's a brilliant basis for a set of lecture notes. ---Derek Raine, Nature, "An excellent book on Einstein's special theory of relativity. . . . I clearly see the strength of this book in lucid, self-contained, lively, down-to-earth, and meticulous presentation. . . . I have no hesitation in saying that this is the best book on the special theory of relativity at a semi-popular level I have ever read."-- K. S. Birbhadra, The Observatory, It's About Time is a book that should join the very best systematic popular expositions of science written in the last 50 years., "Requiring nothing more than a basic understanding of algebra, [this book] provides the clearest and most insightful treatment of special relativity I've ever encountered. . . . It's About Time brings the practice and foundation of physics together through the question of time."-- Arkady Plotnitsky, Foundations of Physics, Requiring nothing more than a basic understanding of algebra, [this book] provides the clearest and most insightful treatment of special relativity I've ever encountered. . . . "It's About Time" brings the practice and foundation of physics together through the question of time., What makes the book as a whole so enjoyable to read is the steady pace at which the subject unfolds. The author spends as much time on each idea as he considers necessary. . . . Nowhere is the book too intense, and the learning curve for readers has a fairly constant slope. . . . David Mermin [is] a master teacher at work--and instructors will almost certainly include some of the ideas in their own teaching. -- Nigel Dowrick, Physics Today, Mermin has taught relativity for 40 years and has clearly thought about the best way to teach the subject. It's About Time offers a serious, yet accessible approach to relativity. ---Kara shane Colley, MAA Reviews, "The reader who works through this book carefully will have quite a good understanding of what special relativity is all about. It offers a fresh approach to the subject." --Michael Strauss, Princeton University, "What makes the book as a whole so enjoyable to read is the steady pace at which the subject unfolds. The author spends as much time on each idea as he considers necessary. . . . Nowhere is the book too intense, and the learning curve for readers has a fairly constant slope. . . . David Mermin [is] a master teacher at work--and instructors will almost certainly include some of the ideas in their own teaching." ---Nigel Dowrick, Physics Today, Mermin has taught relativity for 40 years and has clearly thought about the best way to teach the subject. It's About Time offers a serious, yet accessible approach to relativity., "This is a book full of insight with an engaging style. I recommend it to anyone who has to teach the subject to either [non scientists or undergraduate and graduate students]: it's a brilliant basis for a set of lecture notes." ---Derek Raine, Nature, " It's About Time is a book that should join the very best systematic popular expositions of science written in the last 50 years."-- Peter L. Galison, American Scientist, It's About Time is a book that should join the very best systematic popular expositions of science written in the last 50 years. ---Peter L. Galison, American Scientist, "The reader will find some of the best non-technical description of the special theory of relativity ever written."-- Jaume J. Carot, Mathematical Reviews, "There's a profound difference between knowing about something, and knowing it, and Mermin succeeds at instilling the latter." ---Gilbert Taylor, Booklist, In this highly readable book, Mermin argues that a working knowledge of relativity requires no more than basic algebra and geometry. He makes a valid point. Special relativity is more fundamental, up-to-date and accurate than Newtonian physics, and Einstein's presence in the classroom may inspire the most uninterested student. -- Amanda Gefter, New Scientist, An excellent book on Einstein's special theory of relativity. . . . I clearly see the strength of this book in lucid, self-contained, lively, down-to-earth, and meticulous presentation. . . . I have no hesitation in saying that this is the best book on the special theory of relativity at a semi-popular level I have ever read., "David Mermin's new book is a gem. Requiring nothing more than a basic understanding of algebra, it provides the clearest and most insightful treatment of special relativity I've ever encountered. Students new to special relativity should learn it from this text; those already familiar with the subject should read this book to enhance their understanding and (of equal importance) to experience the craft of a master teacher." --Brian Greene, Columbia University, It's About Timeis a book that should join the very best systematic popular expositions of science written in the last 50 years., "Requiring nothing more than a basic understanding of algebra, [this book] provides the clearest and most insightful treatment of special relativity I've ever encountered. . . . It's About Time brings the practice and foundation of physics together through the question of time." ---Arkady Plotnitsky, Foundations of Physics, "Requiring nothing more than a basic understanding of algebra, [this book] provides the clearest and most insightful treatment of special relativity I've ever encountered. . . . It's About Time brings the practice and foundation of physics together through the question of time." --Arkady Plotnitsky, Foundations of Physics, What makes the book as a whole so enjoyable to read is the steady pace at which the subject unfolds. The author spends as much time on each idea as he considers necessary. . . . Nowhere is the book too intense, and the learning curve for readers has a fairly constant slope. . . . David Mermin [is] a master teacher at work--and instructors will almost certainly include some of the ideas in their own teaching. ---Nigel Dowrick, Physics Today, "In this highly readable book, Mermin argues that a working knowledge of relativity requires no more than basic algebra and geometry. He makes a valid point. Special relativity is more fundamental, up-to-date and accurate than Newtonian physics, and Einstein's presence in the classroom may inspire the most uninterested student." ---Amanda Gefter, New Scientist, "This book includes material that is intellectually innovative and comes as a surprise even to specialists in the field. Its uniqueness, its insights, and its wonderful style will likely make it a classic." --Richard Price, University of Utah, Mermin's premise is that everyone should know about relativity in order to understand the real nature of time. . . . What is remarkable in his approach is his reliance on developing the reader's skills to analyze events in more than one frame of reference. This is the key to understanding relativity: being able to translate with ease from one frame of reference (a moving train) to another (a station). -- Simon Mitton, Times Higher Education Supplement, An excellent book on Einstein's special theory of relativity. . . . I clearly see the strength of this book in lucid, self-contained, lively, down-to-earth, and meticulous presentation. . . . I have no hesitation in saying that this is the best book on the special theory of relativity at a semi-popular level I have ever read. ---K. S. Birbhadra, The Observatory, There's a profound difference between knowing about something, and knowing it, and Mermin succeeds at instilling the latter. -- bert Taylor," Booklist, Mermin has taught relativity for 40 years and has clearly thought about the best way to teach the subject. It's About Time offers a serious, yet accessible approach to relativity. -- Kara shane Colley, MAA Reviews, "There's a profound difference between knowing about something, and knowing it, and Mermin succeeds at instilling the latter."-- Gilbert Taylor, Booklist, "What makes the book as a whole so enjoyable to read is the steady pace at which the subject unfolds. The author spends as much time on each idea as he considers necessary. . . . Nowhere is the book too intense, and the learning curve for readers has a fairly constant slope. . . . David Mermin [is] a master teacher at work--and instructors will almost certainly include some of the ideas in their own teaching."-- Nigel Dowrick, Physics Today, An excellent book on Einstein's special theory of relativity. . . . I clearly see the strength of this book in lucid, self-contained, lively, down-to-earth, and meticulous presentation. . . . I have no hesitation in saying that this is the best book on the special theory of relativity at a semi-popular level I have ever read. -- K. S. Birbhadra, The Observatory, "What makes the book as a whole so enjoyable to read is the steady pace at which the subject unfolds. The author spends as much time on each idea as he considers necessary. . . . Nowhere is the book too intense, and the learning curve for readers has a fairly constant slope. . . . David Mermin [is] a master teacher at work--and instructors will almost certainly include some of the ideas in their own teaching." --Nigel Dowrick, Physics Today, In this highly readable book, Mermin argues that a working knowledge of relativity requires no more than basic algebra and geometry. He makes a valid point. Special relativity is more fundamental, up-to-date and accurate than Newtonian physics, and Einstein's presence in the classroom may inspire the most uninterested student., "Mermin has taught relativity for 40 years and has clearly thought about the best way to teach the subject. It's About Time offers a serious, yet accessible approach to relativity." --Kara shane Colley, MAA Reviews, Mermin's premise is that everyone should know about relativity in order to understand the real nature of time. . . . What is remarkable in his approach is his reliance on developing the reader's skills to analyze events in more than one frame of reference. This is the key to understanding relativity: being able to translate with ease from one frame of reference (a moving train) to another (a station). ---Simon Mitton, Times Higher Education Supplement, "Mermin's premise is that everyone should know about relativity in order to understand the real nature of time. . . . What is remarkable in his approach is his reliance on developing the reader's skills to analyze events in more than one frame of reference. This is the key to understanding relativity: being able to translate with ease from one frame of reference (a moving train) to another (a station)." --Simon Mitton, Times Higher Education Supplement, "An excellent book on Einstein's special theory of relativity. . . . I clearly see the strength of this book in lucid, self-contained, lively, down-to-earth, and meticulous presentation. . . . I have no hesitation in saying that this is the best book on the special theory of relativity at a semi-popular level I have ever read." ---K. S. Birbhadra, The Observatory, There's a profound difference between knowing about something, and knowing it, and Mermin succeeds at instilling the latter. -- Gilbert Taylor," Booklist, "Mermin's premise is that everyone should know about relativity in order to understand the real nature of time. . . . What is remarkable in his approach is his reliance on developing the reader's skills to analyze events in more than one frame of reference. This is the key to understanding relativity: being able to translate with ease from one frame of reference (a moving train) to another (a station)." ---Simon Mitton, Times Higher Education Supplement, The reader will find some of the best non-technical description of the special theory of relativity ever written., "An excellent book on Einstein's special theory of relativity. . . . I clearly see the strength of this book in lucid, self-contained, lively, down-to-earth, and meticulous presentation. . . . I have no hesitation in saying that this is the best book on the special theory of relativity at a semi-popular level I have ever read." --K. S. Birbhadra, The Observatory, "Well-written, chatty and engaging, this book will be accessible to scientists and non-scientists alike." --Robert Geroch, University of Chicago, " It's About Time is a book that should join the very best systematic popular expositions of science written in the last 50 years." --Peter L. Galison, American Scientist, "There's a profound difference between knowing about something, and knowing it, and Mermin succeeds at instilling the latter." --Gilbert Taylor, Booklist, There's a profound difference between knowing about something, and knowing it, and Mermin succeeds at instilling the latter. ---Gilbert Taylor, Booklist, "This is a book full of insight with an engaging style. I recommend it to anyone who has to teach the subject to either [non scientists or undergraduate and graduate students]: it's a brilliant basis for a set of lecture notes." --Derek Raine, Nature, This is a book full of insight with an engaging style. I recommend it to anyone who has to teach the subject to either [non scientists or undergraduate and graduate students]: it's a brilliant basis for a set of lecture notes. -- Derek Raine, Nature, Requiring nothing more than a basic understanding of algebra, [this book] provides the clearest and most insightful treatment of special relativity I've ever encountered. . . .It's About Timebrings the practice and foundation of physics together through the question of time. -- Arkady Plotnitsky, Foundations of Physics, The reader will find some of the best non-technical description of the special theory of relativity ever written. ---Jaume J. Carot, Mathematical Reviews, "The reader will find some of the best non-technical description of the special theory of relativity ever written." --Jaume J. Carot, Mathematical Reviews, " It's About Time is a book that should join the very best systematic popular expositions of science written in the last 50 years." ---Peter L. Galison, American Scientist, The reader will find some of the best non-technical description of the special theory of relativity ever written. -- Jaume J. Carot, Mathematical Reviews, "In this highly readable book, Mermin argues that a working knowledge of relativity requires no more than basic algebra and geometry. He makes a valid point. Special relativity is more fundamental, up-to-date and accurate than Newtonian physics, and Einstein's presence in the classroom may inspire the most uninterested student."-- Amanda Gefter, New Scientist, Mermin has taught relativity for 40 years and has clearly thought about the best way to teach the subject.It's About Timeoffers a serious, yet accessible approach to relativity. -- Kara shane Colley, MAA Reviews, "Mermin has taught relativity for 40 years and has clearly thought about the best way to teach the subject. It's About Time offers a serious, yet accessible approach to relativity."-- Kara shane Colley, MAA Reviews, It's About Time is a book that should join the very best systematic popular expositions of science written in the last 50 years. -- Peter L. Galison, American Scientist, "Mermin has taught relativity for 40 years and has clearly thought about the best way to teach the subject. It's About Time offers a serious, yet accessible approach to relativity." ---Kara shane Colley, MAA Reviews, "In this highly readable book, Mermin argues that a working knowledge of relativity requires no more than basic algebra and geometry. He makes a valid point. Special relativity is more fundamental, up-to-date and accurate than Newtonian physics, and Einstein's presence in the classroom may inspire the most uninterested student." --Amanda Gefter, New Scientist, In this highly readable book, Mermin argues that a working knowledge of relativity requires no more than basic algebra and geometry. He makes a valid point. Special relativity is more fundamental, up-to-date and accurate than Newtonian physics, and Einstein's presence in the classroom may inspire the most uninterested student. ---Amanda Gefter, New Scientist, Requiring nothing more than a basic understanding of algebra, [this book] provides the clearest and most insightful treatment of special relativity I've ever encountered. . . . It's About Time brings the practice and foundation of physics together through the question of time. -- Arkady Plotnitsky, Foundations of Physics, What makes the book as a whole so enjoyable to read is the steady pace at which the subject unfolds. The author spends as much time on each idea as he considers necessary. . . . Nowhere is the book too intense, and the learning curve for readers has a fairly constant slope. . . . David Mermin [is] a master teacher at work--and instructors will almost certainly include some of the ideas in their own teaching., Requiring nothing more than a basic understanding of algebra, [this book] provides the clearest and most insightful treatment of special relativity I've ever encountered. . . . It's About Time brings the practice and foundation of physics together through the question of time., "Mermin's premise is that everyone should know about relativity in order to understand the real nature of time. . . . What is remarkable in his approach is his reliance on developing the reader's skills to analyze events in more than one frame of reference. This is the key to understanding relativity: being able to translate with ease from one frame of reference (a moving train) to another (a station)."-- Simon Mitton, Times Higher Education Supplement, Mermin's premise is that everyone should know about relativity in order to understand the real nature of time. . . . What is remarkable in his approach is his reliance on developing the reader's skills to analyze events in more than one frame of reference. This is the key to understanding relativity: being able to translate with ease from one frame of reference (a moving train) to another (a station)., There's a profound difference between knowing about something, and knowing it, and Mermin succeeds at instilling the latter., "The reader will find some of the best non-technical description of the special theory of relativity ever written." ---Jaume J. Carot, Mathematical Reviews, It's About Timeis a book that should join the very best systematic popular expositions of science written in the last 50 years. -- Peter L. Galison, American Scientist, This is a book full of insight with an engaging style. I recommend it to anyone who has to teach the subject to either [non scientists or undergraduate and graduate students]: it's a brilliant basis for a set of lecture notes.
IllustratedYes
Dewey Decimal530.11
Table Of ContentPreface: Why Another Relativity Book ix Note to Readers xiv Chapter One: The Principle of Relativity 1 Chapter Two: Combining (Small)Velocities 14 Chapter Three: The Speed of Light 19 Chapter Four: Combining (Any)Velocities 28 Chapter Five: Simultaneous Events;Synchronized Clocks 45 Chapter Six: Moving Clocks Run Slowly;Moving Sticks Shrink 58 Chapter Seven: Looking At a Moving Clock 73 Chapter Eight: The Interval between Events 79 Chapter Nine: Trains of Rockets 89 Chapter Ten: Space-Time Geometry 102 Chapter Eleven: E =M 2 144 Chapter Twelve: A Bit about General Relativity 171 Chapter Thirteen: What Makes It Happen? 179 Index 187
SynopsisIn It's About Time, N. David Mermin asserts that relativity ought to be an important part of everyone's education--after all, it is largely about time, a subject with which all are familiar. The book reveals that some of our most intuitive notions about time are shockingly wrong, and that the real nature of time discovered by Einstein can be rigorously explained without advanced mathematics. This readable exposition of the nature of time as addressed in Einstein's theory of relativity is accessible to anyone who remembers a little high school algebra and elementary plane geometry. The book evolved as Mermin taught the subject to diverse groups of undergraduates at Cornell University, none of them science majors, over three and a half decades. Mermin's approach is imaginative, yet accurate and complete. Clear, lively, and informal, the book will appeal to intellectually curious readers of all kinds, including even professional physicists, who will be intrigued by its highly original approach., In It's About Time , N. David Mermin asserts that relativity ought to be an important part of everyone's education--after all, it is largely about time, a subject with which all are familiar. The book reveals that some of our most intuitive notions about time are shockingly wrong, and that the real nature of time discovered by Einstein can be rigorously explained without advanced mathematics. This readable exposition of the nature of time as addressed in Einstein's theory of relativity is accessible to anyone who remembers a little high school algebra and elementary plane geometry. The book evolved as Mermin taught the subject to diverse groups of undergraduates at Cornell University, none of them science majors, over three and a half decades. Mermin's approach is imaginative, yet accurate and complete. Clear, lively, and informal, the book will appeal to intellectually curious readers of all kinds, including even professional physicists, who will be intrigued by its highly original approach., Reveals that some of our most intuitive notions about time are shockingly wrong, and that the real nature of time discovered by Einstein can be rigorously explained without advanced mathematics. This book is suitable for intellectually curious readers of various kinds, including professional physicists.
LC Classification NumberQC173.65.M47 2009
All listings for this product
Ratings and Reviews
Most relevant reviews
- Apr 23, 2019
Not exactly about winding your watch...
Time is all relative. Relatively speaking. This book tells you why. Brush your mathematical cobwebs away and dive in... The waters fine!Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
