Description
Albert Einstein transformed our understanding of the universe--but he didn't do it alone. This book traces the full arc of the relativity revolution, from the overlooked protorelativity period (1880-1905) to Einstein's 1905 breakthrough and the long road to acceptance through the 1930s. It explains Einstein's radical reconception of space, time, mass, and energy, as well as the novel logic and structure that distinguished his work from earlier theories. Daniel Siegel integrates history with science pedagogy, using vivid analogies and innovative strategies to clarify abstract concepts like length contraction and E = mc2. By reexamining Einstein's intellectual predecessors and the contested reception of his ideas, this book reshapes our understanding of one of science's greatest revolutions--highlighting both the individual genius of Einstein and the collaborative groundwork that made his achievement possible. It offers a modern, nuanced perspective on the making and meaning of relativity theory.
