General relativity and quantum mechanics have become the two central pillars of theoretical physics. Moreover, general relativity has important applications in astrophysics and high-energy particle physics. Covering the fundamentals of the subject, Principles of Cosmology and Gravitation describes the universe as revealed by observations and presents a theoretical framework to enable important cosmological formulae to be derived and numerical calculations performed. Avoiding elaborate formal discussions, the book presents a practical approach that focuses on the general theory of relativity. It examines different evolutionary models and the gravitational effects of massive bodies. The book also includes a large number of worked examples and problems, half with solutions.
Didn't read the entire book, but it was used for my Cosmology course. It is a good introduction and I do recommend it for what it is. It does require good knowledge of mechanics, modern physics, thermodynamics and other physics. I had some trouble keeping up with the book, but I blame it on not having studied physics for a while. With someone who took the time to explain the concepts in the book for me, I think it really made me learn some basics on the subject.
Initially wanted to take the course to be able to understand how to create a more believable scifi-world, for that purpose it only made me more confused. There is some truth in the quote "the more you know, the more you realise how much you don't know".
Não sou físico, tampouco cosmólogo. Meu único receio é de que algumas coisas no livro sejam datadas. Irei ler o livro de Barbara Ryden a seguir, se ninguém quiser me sugerir outros textos introdutórios.