--- product_id: 8190362 title: "Relativity: A Very Short Introduction" price: "€ 28.54" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.pt/products/8190362-relativity-a-very-short-introduction store_origin: PT region: Portugal --- # Relativity: A Very Short Introduction **Price:** € 28.54 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Relativity: A Very Short Introduction - **How much does it cost?** € 28.54 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.pt](https://www.desertcart.pt/products/8190362-relativity-a-very-short-introduction) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description If you move at high speed, time slows down, space squashes up and you get heavier. Travel fast enough and you could weigh as much as a jumbo jet, be flattened thinner than a CD without feeling a thing-and live forever! As for the angles of a triangle, they do not always have to add up to 180 degrees. And then, of course, there are black holes. These are but a few of the extraordinary consequences of Einstein's theory of relativity. It is now over a hundred years since he made these discoveries, and yet the general public is still largely unaware of them. Filled with illuminating anecdotes and fascinating accounts of experiments, this book aims to introduce the interested lay person to the subject of relativity in a way which is accessible and engaging and at the same time scientifically rigorous. With relatively few mathematical equations--nothing more complicated than the Pythagoras's Theorem--this VSI packs a lot time into very little space, and for anyone who has felt intimidated by Einstein's groundbreaking theory, it offers the perfect place to start. About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam. Review: An absolutely great introduction - Many years ago, Stannard was a tutor on my physics course and gave lectures on Special Relativity. He was very good, with an obvious love of his subject and a genuine desire to communicate the ideas to others. It's quite surprising how many physicists never go beyond the Special theory to get a firm grasp of the General theory. Stannard is a notable exception. Returning to the subject many years later, I naturally chose a book by him. And in any case, I'm gradually working my way through the entire VSI series. I really do think that this is the best book with which to start if you want to tackle Relativity, and an excellent refresher if you have already studied the subject. It clarified many things for me and introduced a few completely new ideas. The math is fairly simple, certainly nothing beyond high school level, although the square root symbol written as a V had me puzzled for a moment. The desertcart product description says the book has 144 pages. In fact it's 114, about par for this series. Also, the Look Inside feature here will reveal some typos, like the '3/5 = 0.67' error on page 7, pointed out by another reviewer. In the copy I bought (from desertcart) these errors are corrected. [PeterReeve] Review: desertcart.Kindle purchase - Relativity, a Very Short Introduction - Well, yes, I did enjoy reading this publication. I am not a scientist, nor a mathematician, but a simple layman, trained as an accountant (worst luck), and it is from this background that I write this review. Since childhood, I have always wondered about the Universe, where did it all begin, where does it all end, how did it, and life, get there Etc. Etc.? (Shut up! God put it there - no need to ask stupid questions or you'll get a belting!). The properties of light and its speed through a vacuum as a universal constant, the concept of a warping or distortion, of time space (for want of a better description) caused by mass, evolution of stars, black holes, relativity, all fascinating subjects - entertainingly explained by Russell Stannard. Intuitively, perhaps, I have never felt comfortable with the Big Bang theory, which the Author takes as a given. I would like to refer, to him in particular, and others in general, a compelling alternative theory suggested by renowned Plasma Scientist, Eric J Lerner, in his 1991 publication "the Big Bang Never Happened". The "red shift" observation has led to the "given" that the Universe is expanding, but is it really and truly expanding? Perhaps we need another genius of Einstein's ilk, to further think outside the square and come up with a more revealing explanation. For example, could it be that as a yet undiscovered property of photons, is that they lose energy with the passage of time ? Hence, over millions of years, a time caused energy loss could, to an observer, be revealed as a red shift. Alternatively, again over millions of years, photons could be affected by interactions with particles in space, and, or, gravitational influences, that also cause energy loss, revealing itself as "red shifts" Again, intuitively, i don't feel comfortable with the theory of dark matter and or dark energy - it is too much like an assertion of "we, the really clever people, who have studied astronomy and related subjects, know what we are talking about, so just shut up or you'll get a belting! Thinking back to Galileo Galilei (1564 to 1642), i hope i won't be prosecuted for heresy, daring to challenge theories of the "establishment". For a layman like me, I enjoyed the book, and, to you, the astronomers, please forgive me for daring to question enigmas relating to red shift, dark matter and dark energy. John Haneman - Sydney - Australia ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #125,441 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #33 in Mathematical Physics (Books) #41 in Relativity Physics (Books) #197 in Applied Mathematics (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 234 Reviews | ## Images ![Relativity: A Very Short Introduction - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71PEiAbJAqL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An absolutely great introduction *by P***E on October 9, 2010* Many years ago, Stannard was a tutor on my physics course and gave lectures on Special Relativity. He was very good, with an obvious love of his subject and a genuine desire to communicate the ideas to others. It's quite surprising how many physicists never go beyond the Special theory to get a firm grasp of the General theory. Stannard is a notable exception. Returning to the subject many years later, I naturally chose a book by him. And in any case, I'm gradually working my way through the entire VSI series. I really do think that this is the best book with which to start if you want to tackle Relativity, and an excellent refresher if you have already studied the subject. It clarified many things for me and introduced a few completely new ideas. The math is fairly simple, certainly nothing beyond high school level, although the square root symbol written as a V had me puzzled for a moment. The Amazon product description says the book has 144 pages. In fact it's 114, about par for this series. Also, the Look Inside feature here will reveal some typos, like the '3/5 = 0.67' error on page 7, pointed out by another reviewer. In the copy I bought (from Amazon) these errors are corrected. [PeterReeve] ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon.Kindle purchase - Relativity, a Very Short Introduction *by J***N on October 20, 2012* Well, yes, I did enjoy reading this publication. I am not a scientist, nor a mathematician, but a simple layman, trained as an accountant (worst luck), and it is from this background that I write this review. Since childhood, I have always wondered about the Universe, where did it all begin, where does it all end, how did it, and life, get there Etc. Etc.? (Shut up! God put it there - no need to ask stupid questions or you'll get a belting!). The properties of light and its speed through a vacuum as a universal constant, the concept of a warping or distortion, of time space (for want of a better description) caused by mass, evolution of stars, black holes, relativity, all fascinating subjects - entertainingly explained by Russell Stannard. Intuitively, perhaps, I have never felt comfortable with the Big Bang theory, which the Author takes as a given. I would like to refer, to him in particular, and others in general, a compelling alternative theory suggested by renowned Plasma Scientist, Eric J Lerner, in his 1991 publication "the Big Bang Never Happened". The "red shift" observation has led to the "given" that the Universe is expanding, but is it really and truly expanding? Perhaps we need another genius of Einstein's ilk, to further think outside the square and come up with a more revealing explanation. For example, could it be that as a yet undiscovered property of photons, is that they lose energy with the passage of time ? Hence, over millions of years, a time caused energy loss could, to an observer, be revealed as a red shift. Alternatively, again over millions of years, photons could be affected by interactions with particles in space, and, or, gravitational influences, that also cause energy loss, revealing itself as "red shifts" Again, intuitively, i don't feel comfortable with the theory of dark matter and or dark energy - it is too much like an assertion of "we, the really clever people, who have studied astronomy and related subjects, know what we are talking about, so just shut up or you'll get a belting! Thinking back to Galileo Galilei (1564 to 1642), i hope i won't be prosecuted for heresy, daring to challenge theories of the "establishment". For a layman like me, I enjoyed the book, and, to you, the astronomers, please forgive me for daring to question enigmas relating to red shift, dark matter and dark energy. John Haneman - Sydney - Australia ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Intriguing *by B***T on April 19, 2013* I've always been interested in time and our relation to it. This book helps bring some clarity to understanding Einsteins theory. You need a slightly more than basic understanding of math concepts in order to completely grasp it all but, even if you don't, you can still get a better understanding of the theory. It's one of those basic things in life and this book will bring you to a quick understanding of what is really meant by "time is relative." Most people use it as a cliche' but after understanding what Einstein, among others, had proposed, this books made me see it as a much deeper subject. Now, what was negative about this book? I can't say because, reading about subjects like relativity is...yes, you guessed it...relative. ## Frequently Bought Together - Relativity: A Very Short Introduction: 190 (Very Short Introductions) - Quantum Theory: A Very Short Introduction: 69 (Very Short Introductions) - Particle Physics: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.pt/products/8190362-relativity-a-very-short-introduction](https://www.desertcart.pt/products/8190362-relativity-a-very-short-introduction) --- *Product available on Desertcart Portugal* *Store origin: PT* *Last updated: 2026-07-12*