The Geometry of Spacetime: An Introduction to Special and General Relativity

by James J. Callahan

Hermann Minkowski recast special relativity as essentially a new geometric structure for spacetime. This book looks at the ideas of both Einstein and Minkowski, and then introduces the theory of frames, surfaces and intrinsic geometry, developing the main implications of Einstein's general relativity theory.

Genres: Physics, Mathematics, Science

468 pages, Hardcover

First published December 17, 1999

About the author

James Callahan earned a B.A. from Marist College and a Ph.D. from New York University.

In 1975, Professor Callahan received the Lester R. Ford Award of the Mathematical Association of America and at Smith he has received the Faculty Distinguished Teaching Award and the Sears–Roebuck Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership. He has made research trips to England and France.

Callahan was the director of the Five College Calculus Project (funded by the National Science Foundation), and co–author of Calculus in Context (W. H. Freeman & Co, 1995). He wrote Geometry of Spacetime (Springer–Verlag, 2000) an undergraduate text in mathematics about relativity, as well as Advanced Calculus: a Geometric View.

Professor Callahan's interests include: geometry, dynamical systems, chaos and fractals, catastrophe theory, relativity, most areas of applied analysis and building things.

Reviews

[Saman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rigorous special/general relativity book, suited for math students who prefer rigorous mathematical arguments. The book does not assume much prerequisites but basic linear algebra.

[Richard Marney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I covered only selected chapters to assist in reading, as a neophyte physicist, Einstein’s (basic) Special and General Theories. The book requires an advanced level in mathematics but does allow the reader to grasp far better the theories.

The wonders of being locked down again due to the pandemic!!!😉