General Theory of Relativity

by Paul A.M. Dirac

Book Overview

Einstein's general theory of relativity requires a curved space for the description of the physical world. If one wishes to go beyond superficial discussions of the physical relations involved, one needs to set up precise equations for handling curved space. The well-established mathematical technique that accomplishes this is clearly described in this classic book by Nobel Laureate P.A.M. Dirac. Based on a series of lectures given by Dirac at...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 069101146X
• ISBN13: 9780691011462
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 80 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A very succinct presentation of General Relativity

This is just about the most succinct presentation of GR that can be found anywhere. It is not a good first text on the subject of GR; It starts out assuming a grasp of SR and tensors, rapidly introduces Riemannian geometry and stays there for the rest of the book, ending with the various classical field equations of GR, and making only the occasional reference to anything Newtonian or otherwise observable along the way. It is an axiomatic treatment of the subject of GR from the point of view of Dirac, with geodesics, action principles, and the sparest set of observables. While I read the book, it was interesting to imagine that Dirac came up with this treatment of the subject while trying to discern how to re-cast some of his own contributions within the formalism of GR. This little book stands as a very nice explication of a beautiful and complete classical field theory. My first impression of it was that the book reads very much like a set of Dirac's personal notes might possibly have read, devoid of all non-essential elements or unnecessary inferences. It is a very nice and succinct overview of an axiomatic description of GR in terms of variational principles.

If you know special relativity a great way to go

This is quite simply an amazing book. It uses the older component notation to give an rather complete treatment of the basics of GR in something like 69 pages. It is beautiful and elegant like all of P.A.M Dirac's papers and books. There is no global formalism and the book is not comprehensive but it is a great treatment. One work of caution. The reader who has already had some GR may find it more approachable. But I do not believe this is necessarily true.

A terse and efficient presentation

In only 69 pages, Dirac lucidly develops the major results of general relativity. Owing to its size, the book has no real "introduction", meaning that, although background material is given, it consists only of those equations which are required in the subsequent development. If the reader has had no previous exposure to tensor analysis, this background material will probably be insufficient. The masterful organization of this book is such that the exposition proceeds in a nearly deductive fashion. Indeed, the text is reminiscent more of pure mathematics, with very little appeal to "physical intuition." Of course, as with Dirac's other works, the theory is developed in the most efficient manner possible. It is a model presentation; the reader may admire and absorb it but does not *participate* in its motivation or development. To those who seek a more complete (and leisurely) presentation of general relativity along similar classical lines, Levi-Civita: The Absolute Differential Calculus; Eddington: The Mathematical Theory of Relativity and Weyl: Space Time Matter are among the finest works. Slightly more recent texts, also based on the kernel-index method, include Schouten: Tensor Analysis for Physicists and Schrodinger: Space-Time Structure. For the modern global approach to general relativity, Hawking and Ellis: The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time is well suited for a mathematically inclined reader.

An excellent synopsis of classical general relativity

This is a great little book for the well prepared reader. An introductory course (or two) would be very helpful before attempting this book. Once one has the basics, then this book will enhance one's understanding by emphasising through economy of word and subject matter what the theory is all about.