Einstein's masterwork : 1915 and the general theory of relativity

"One of the world's most celebrated science writers reveals the origins of Einstein's General Theory-- and provides a greater understanding of who Einstein was at the time of this pivotal achievement"-- "One of the world's most celebrated science writers reveals the origins of Einstein's General Theory. In 1915, Albert Einstein presented his masterwork to the Prussian Academy of Sciences--a theory of gravity, matter, space, and time: the General Theory of Relativity. Einstein himself said it was "the most valuable theory of my life," and a work "of incomparable beauty." The General Theory describes the evolution of the universe, reveals the existence of black holes, examines the behavior of orbiting neutron stars, and explains why clocks run slower on the surface of the earth than in space. It even suggests the possibility of time travel. And yet when we think of Einstein's breakthrough year, we think instead of 1905--the year of Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity and his equation E=mc2--as his annus mirabilis, even though the Special Theory has a narrower focus. The General Theory has been overshadowed by the Special Theory and is often regarded as 'too difficult' for ordinary mortals to comprehend. Yet by placing the General Theory in the context of Einstein's marvelous life, John Gribbin presents this masterpiece in a clear and cogent manner. Combined with the exciting recent detection of gravity waves--a century after Einstein's astonishing breakthrough--Einstein's Masterwork shows how this visionary physicist still continues to influence the course of twenty-first century science."--Dust jacket.… (more)