Relatively Speaking: Relativity, Black Holes, and the Fate of the Universe [Paperback]

Eric Chaisson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 1990

"Beginning with a clear, nontechnical discussion of both the 'special' and 'general' theories of relativity, astrophysicist Chaisson explores their theoretical and experimental bases and what these say about the origin and structure of the universe."--Library Journal Photographs and drawings.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Beginning with a clear, nontechnical discussion of both the "special" and "general" theories of relativity, astrophysicist Chaisson explores their theoretical and experimental bases and what these say about the origin and structure of the universe. He examines very large issues: cosmological foundations of the universe, the various "models" of the universe, and black holes. This is not an arbitrary potpourri of interesting topics, but an integrated, coherent discussion. Lively, readable, and informed, this belongs in most public libraries. Robert Paul, Dickinson Coll., Carlisle, Pa.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 258 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (March 31, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393306755
• ISBN-13: 978-0393306750
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,407,431 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Review, October 23, 2010

By 

Robert P. Benton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Relatively Speaking: Relativity, Black Holes, and the Fate of the Universe (Hardcover)

Hi. I understand this book is very scientific. Maybe I'm not intelligent enough to give a valuable review, but I know I really like this book. And when I found out it had no reviews on it, I had to be the first just to give it a 10. It's the book that got me interested in Astrophysics in the first place, and this book does a really good job of getting you interested in Astrophysics. Ever since picking it up, astrophysics has become my absolute favorite topic! So, a big thank you to Eric Chaisson and Mrs. Chaisson for drawing the pictures, which include some Star Wars pictures probably because she's a fan.

5.0 out of 5 stars More than a relatively good read, January 8, 2012

By 

Christopher Doherty (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Relatively Speaking: Relativity, Black Holes, and the Fate of the Universe (Paperback)

If you're interested in the big questions of cosmology and astrophysics, including coverage of big bang cosmology, star formation, and relativity, this apparently little-known work is a fantastic introduction. It is very well-written, easy to follow with relatively little math, and has good diagrams and some humorous images.

I don't know why this book is so unknown. I first encountered it around eight years ago in a class on Einstein and relativity for non-science majors at Columbia College. It served as the textbook for the entire course, which is just a fantastic idea for an introductory course. It's what set me off on a several-book spree through pop science books on cosmology and physics. I read it for the third time just recently and thoroughly enjoyed it again.