How Einstein Created Relativity Out of Physics and Astronomy

This book tracks the history of the theory of relativity through Einstein’s life, with in-depth studies of its background as built upon by ideas from earlier scientists. The focus points of Einstein’s theory of relativity include its development throughout his life; the origins of his ideas and his indebtedness to the earlier works of Galileo, Newton, Faraday, Mach and others; the application of the theory to the birth of modern cosmology; and his quest for a unified field theory. Treading a fine line between the popular and technical (but not shying away from the occasional equation), this book explains the entire range of relativity and weaves an up-to-date biography of Einstein throughout. The result is an explanation of the world of relativity, based on an extensive journey into earlier physics and a simultaneous voyage into the mind of Einstein, written for the curious and intelligent reader.

David R. Topper, Professor of History at the University of Winnipeg (retiring in June 2012), has taught courses in the history of science and the history of art since 1970. He was the recipient of two teaching awards: the Robson Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching at the University of Winnipeg (1981) and the National 3M Teaching Fellowship (1987). Since 1982 he has been an international co-editor and since 2005, an honorary editor of the journal Leonardo. His recent publications are on matters related to the work of Galileo, Newton and Einstein. In 2007 he published Quirky Sides of Scientists: True Tales of Ingenuity and Error from Physics and Astronomy (Springer).