A handsome annotated edition of Einstein’s celebrated book on relativity After completing the final version of his general theory of relativity in November 1915, Albert Einstein wrote Relativity . Intended for a popular audience, the book remains one of the most lucid explanations of the special and general theories ever written. This edition of Einstein’s celebrated book features an authoritative English translation of the text along with commentaries by Hanoch Gutfreund and Jürgen Renn that examine the evolution of Einstein’s thinking and cast his ideas in a modern context. Providing invaluable insight into one of the greatest scientific minds of all time, the book also includes a unique survey of the introductions from past editions, covers from selected early editions, a letter from Walther Rathenau to Einstein discussing the book, and a revealing sample from Einstein’s original handwritten manuscript. "This authoritative centenary edition is a fitting tribute to Einstein’s efforts to make his concepts accessible―in turn, helping to raise the profile of basic science and modern physics on a global scale." ---Mary Craig, Nature “This new edition of Einstein’s popular presentation of both special and general relativity is a joy to read. Over the past hundred years, relativity has been brought to the public in many forms―magazines, books, documentaries―but there’s nothing quite like being guided through one of the most profound scientific insights of all time by the master himself.” ―Brian Greene, Columbia University “This book is not only an important historical document, but displays the style and clarity of Einstein’s thought in a manner accessible to a wide readership. It’s good that it is being reissued in this fine new edition to mark the centenary of his greatest insights.” ―Martin Rees, Trinity College, University of Cambridge, and Astronomer Royal “[ Relativity ] conjures Einstein as the oracle presenting a theory to the world―one of the most revolutionary and profound theories of all time.” ―Pedro Ferreira, Nature “Nobody is better at explaining relativity than Einstein himself. . . . This 100th anniversary edition is complemented by commentary from Gutfreund and Renn, who clarify some key points and add historical perspective, making Einstein’s own words even more accessible and meaningful.” ―Tom Siegfried, Science News “A reading companion to make Einstein’s thinking clearer to present-day readers.” ―Mike Perricone, Symmetry Hanoch Gutfreund is professor emeritus of theoretical physics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he is also the academic director of the Albert Einstein Archives. Jürgen Renn is a director at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin. His books include The Genesis of General Relativity . Relativity The Special & The General Theory By Albert Einstein PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS Copyright © 2019 Princeton University Press and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-691-19181-2 Contents Preface to the Paperback Edition, xiii, Introduction, xvii, Einstein as a Missionary of Science, 1, Einstein's Booklet: Relativity: The Special and the General Theory, 7, PART I: The Special Theory of Relativity, 1. Physical Meaning of Geometrical Propositions, 11, 2. The System of Co-ordinates, 14, 3. Space and Time in Classical Mechanics, 18, 4. The Galileian System of Co-ordinates, 21, 5. The Principle of Relativity (in the Restricted Sense), 23, 6. The Theorem of the Addition of Velocities Employed in Classical Mechanics, 27, 7. The Apparent Incompatibility of the Law of Propagation of Light with the Principle of Relativity, 28, 8. On the Idea of Time in Physics, 32, 9. The Relativity of Simultaneity, 36, 10. On the Relativity of the Conception of Distance, 39, 11. The Lorentz Transformation, 41, 12. The Behaviour of Measuring-Rods and Clocks in Motion, 47, 13. Theorem of the Addition of the Velocities. The Experiment of Fizeau, 50, 14. The Heuristic Value of the Theory of Relativity, 54, 15. General Results of the Theory, 56, 16. Experience and the Special Theory of Relativity, 62, 17. Minkowski's Four-Dimensional Space, 68, PART II: The General Theory of Relativity, 18. Special and General Principle of Relativity, 72, 19. The Gravitational Field, 76, 20. The Equality of Inertial and Gravitational Mass as an Argument for the General Postulate of Relativity, 80, 21. In What Respects Are the Foundations of Classical Mechanics and of the Special Theory of Relativity Unsatisfactory?, 85, 22. A Few Inferences from the General Principle of Relativity, 88, 23. Behaviour of Clocks and Measuring-Rods on a Rotating Body of Reference, 93, 24. Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Continuum, 97, 25. Gaussian Co-ordinates, 101, 26. The Space-Time Continuum of the Special Theory of Relativity Considered as a Euclidean Continuum, 106, 27. The Space-Time Continuum of the General Theory of Relativ