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Publisher's Summary

In one of the most exciting and accessible explanations of The Theory of Relativity in recent years, Professors Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw go on a journey to the frontier of 21st century science to consider the real meaning behind the iconic sequence of symbols that make up Einstein's most famous equation, exploring the principles of physics through everyday life.
©2010 Brian Cox & Jeff Forshaw (P)2010 WF Howes Ltd
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful
3 out of 5 stars
By Ian C Robertson on 11-30-13

Generally Good

It is always hard to know where to make your pitch. This must be true of every non-fiction title, but I expect it is particularly true of physics. One can't get any more iconic than the formula at the heart of this title, but very few of us know what it really means or why it is so important. I got interested in finding out about the time reports were leaking out of CERN about a particle that was faster than light. I thought it was time to turn to Cox and Forshaw for help (again). Of course they supplied the answers, but pitched at a level that was a bit too general for my liking. I was having fun with the maths (now that I don't need to pass exams) and getting into the dimensions they explore in the text when, suddenly I couldn't follow the math myself and I read the dreaded words (or words to the effect of), "take it from me, if you do the maths, this is the result". I wanted to do the maths. So, i ordered the hardcopy from Amazon, hoping it would be filled with lots of nice tables, diagrams and appendices. There are some diagrams, but the detail is omitted. That's fine of course for where the authors pitched the text, but I was a bit disappointed. I of course went out and got Physics for Dummies (or something akin to it), then went onto a text book and now I'm happy and ready to write this review.
The rub is, if you know nothing and are happy with something, then you'll be well pleased with this. If you want to do the math (like me) then it's a beginning, not an ending.
Jeff Forshaw reads the title with interest and is easy to listen to. No problem with the performace, at all.

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9 of 9 people found this review helpful

4 out of 5 stars
By Roy on 06-13-11

Needs a few Diagrams

Audio books, in the main, are an effective means of absorbing difficult concepts.
There are however pit-falls. E=MC2 falls into one of them.
This audio version only needs a few diagrams to make it the best tutorial on Relativity.
A complementary web site would lift it from frustratingly incomplete to brilliant.

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12 of 13 people found this review helpful

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful
4 out of 5 stars
By Mr. S. Hyams on 05-30-11

Easier than I thought

For the first time I actually understand about time and the observer.
Brilliant book enhanced by the readers accent.
The descriptions work and while the spoken equations get a little confusing - switched off for bits - the overall value of the book is excellent.
Knocks spots of books like "A brief history of time" for ease of understanding.

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15 of 15 people found this review helpful

2 out of 5 stars
By Simon on 04-15-11

Good but not suited to an audiobook

Whilst far from being an expert physicist I have read a fair bit about relativity and quantum mechanics etc so I was coming to this book looking to get a clearer understanding of the subject matter it deals with. The only problem is that I don't think I'm any clearer now than when I started.

I have no doubt that this is in large part due to the fact I was listening to it as an audiobook rather than reading it so don't want to put the book down too much. The book started off okay but quite quickly descended into multiple equations that I just found impossible to follow in my head which meant that large swathes of the book became impenetrable - and since each section relied on the previous it meant that everything went pear-shaped for me quite early on.

The book is a good attempt to explain how Einstein reached his famous equation but in the end, at least as an audiobook, the ideas just required too much abstract and mathematical thought in order to properly ensure understanding.

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43 of 46 people found this review helpful

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful
5 out of 5 stars
By Joe Bond on 10-02-17

Special & General Relativity reasonably accessible

I love when an author is willing, clear and interesting enough to read his own work. This is one of those times. Although some of the formulas explained would be a lot easier to digest visually, they're not necessary to get a reasonable grasp of most of the concepts explained.

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5 out of 5 stars
By Barry on 09-19-17

Great explanation

I will have to listen again to be sure I pick up the parts I missed, but overall I learned so much on the first pass. I enjoyed the occasional subtle humour too.

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