Customer Reviews

The Science of Mechanics: A Critical and Historical Account of Its Development

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One of the most influential books that led Einstein to become skeptical of concepts like absolute space and time. Einstein enjoyed Mach's no-nonsense attitude. I found it a bit difficult to read but enjoyed it very much.

Two separate books with the same title and authors are being offered for sale through this site. The paperback book offered for less than $20 is not the full version of Mach's treatise; it is a supplement to the original work, the equivalent of a 104-page errata list.

If i am not mistaken this is the very book that Einstein read and from which he developed his idead of special relativity. It was the critique of Mach of the ideas of Newton which exposed the flaus in Newton's thinking. Einstein built on Mach's ideas and brought his own questions to the subject which brough great results, not only in classical physics but made possible the developement of modern physics.

Descartes said: "Today, then, as i have suitably freed my mind from all cares, and have secured for myself an assured leisure in peaceful solitude, i shall at last apply myself earnestly and freely to the general overthrow of all my former opinions."

It is in this spirit that new physics, and sciences in general, are created. A million experiments will not bring about any progress. Pure rationalism is the true creator, which is at the very nature of a theoretical physicist. This book exposes the thinking of such a person.

This book seems full of interesting ideas - I predict it could have a significant impact if its ideas were to become widely known.