General Theory of Relativity

Rating:
Summary: Great for the tensor formalism, but not enough
Review: Dirac does a great job at explaining the differential-geometry.
The tensor calculus, parallel displacement, covariant derivative etc. are explained clearly and quickly.
However, 69 pages for this theory is just not enough. I found the later part of the book insufficient. It's more of a dictionary of general relativity.

Rating:
Summary: Dirac's stamp of originality on general relativity
Review: Dirac who originally wanted to do a PhD with the Cambridge relativist Cunningham in 1923,published in 1950 his Hamiltonian Constraint Theory for non-linear systems and showed in 1958,1959,1968 how the problem of quantization in GR - deducing that gravitons have spin two and the physical reasons for the existence of gravitational radiation may be looked at from the point of view of this formalism. Many including Abdus Salam and Bryce deWitt regarded this work as bringing to a kind of technical completion an aspect of this rather intricate/ vexing problem. Dirac did not address the Hamiltonian approach here but spent some pages on the outstanding problems of localisation of energy and the pseudo tensor form of 'energy momentum' problem in GR and a very fascinating treatment on black holes, gravitational radiation and graviton spin with the usual Dirac stamp of originality.

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Summary: The best synopsis on GR
Review: First I've to say that I've read this book after learning GR on Ray d'Inverno and Misner-Thorne-Wheeler. This means that one shoud gain a little confidence with tensor calculus before using this text (otherwise one could not be able to appreciate the great physical insight of this book). One more time Dirac taught me how to study Physics: which are the right questions one has to look for an answer, without missing too much time on special cases of an idea that do not add anything fundamental to the latter. This is a book I'd recommend to everyone who already knows the subject or to anyone who feels he could know more about it: and all of that in less than 70 pages !!!

Rating:
Summary: A terse and efficient presentation
Review: In only 69 pages, Dirac lucidly develops the major results of general relativity. Owing to its size, the book has no real "introduction", meaning that, although background material is given, it consists only of those equations which are required in the subsequent development. If the reader has had no previous exposure to tensor analysis, this background material will probably be insufficient.

The masterful organization of this book is such that the exposition proceeds in a nearly deductive fashion. Indeed, the text is reminiscent more of pure mathematics, with very little appeal to "physical intuition." Of course, as with Dirac's other works, the theory is developed in the most efficient manner possible. It is a model presentation; the reader may admire and absorb it but does not *participate* in its motivation or development.

To those who seek a more complete (and leisurely) presentation of general relativity along similar classical lines, Levi-Civita: The Absolute Differential Calculus; Eddington: The Mathematical Theory of Relativity and Weyl: Space Time Matter are among the finest works. Slightly more recent texts, also based on the kernel-index method, include Schouten: Tensor Analysis for Physicists and Schrodinger: Space-Time Structure. For the modern global approach to general relativity, Hawking and Ellis: The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time is well suited for a mathematically inclined reader.

Rating:
Summary: Remarkably Efficient Presentation
Review: In only 69 pages, Dirac lucidly develops the major results of general relativity. Owing to its size, the book has no "introduction", meaning that, although background material is given, it consists only of those equations which are required in the latter portions of the text. If the reader has had no previous exposure to tensor analysis, this background material will not be sufficient.

Dirac's presentation is so organized and concise that the subject matter appears as a trivial application of tensor analysis. The reviewer was elated to understand the subject in such mathematically tenable terms. Of course, as with Dirac's other works, the theory is developed in the most efficient manner possible. It is a perfect *presentation* of the theory, but the reader does not *participate* in its motivation or development.

To those who seek a more complete (and leisurely) presentation of general relativity, Levi-Civita's Absolute Differential Calculus and Eddington's Mathematical Theory of Relativity are among the best classical texts.

Rating:
Summary: Dirac's magnificent slim volume
Review: Paul A.M. Dirac' General Theory of Relativity is a remarkable book. Florida State University was very fortunate to have this outstanding Nobel physicist and Lucasian Professor of Physics at Cambridge in residence where he completed this book for a course of lectures in the Physics Department at Florida State University in February, 1975.

The book represents the necessary mathematics of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. Einstein's theory requires a curved space for the description of the physical world. Plainly, if one wishes to go beyond a superficial discussion of the physical relations one needs to set up precise equations for handling curved space.

The point was that by the time Dirac wrote this slim volume of 69 pages there was a well-established but rather complicated mathematical technique that does this. Dirac's contribution was to bring it all together succinctly and sufficiently to give beginning students a working knowledge of the General Theory. Of course, there is no sense in arguing that things have progressed well beyond what Dirac has achieved in his book; however, it serves still as an excellent statement of what is needed to move ahead. It is hardly out of date, and for anyone on familiar terms with General Relativity this book is just a pleasure to read or study. This book also reflects a biographical fact about Dirac. He was a laconic person just as I would suggest this book is similarly a reflection of that personality.
Lastly, it should be noted that Dirac was succeeded in the Lucasian Chair of Theoretical Physics by Stephen Hawking.
James van Luik
Spinoza Professor

Rating:
Summary: Dirac sets the standard of directness and simplicity
Review: The author has a very clear idea of where he is heading to and guides the reader accordingly. The book is designed such that there is not a single open door that the reader can enter and waste time. I used to think Landau's writing especially his Classical Mechanics (Vol 1 of Course in Theoretical Physics) was outstanding in its directness and clarity. Apparently Dirac proves to be a competetor. While the book must be praised for its style the reader is expected to have some familiarity with the mathematical technicalities of the subject, this is despite the fact that Dirac develops some tensor analysis at the beginning.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent synopsis of classical general relativity
Review: This is a great little book for the well prepared reader. An introductory course (or two) would be very helpful before attempting this book. Once one has the basics, then this book will enhance one's understanding by emphasising through economy of word and subject matter what the theory is all about.

Rating:
Summary: Dirac's magnificent slim volume
Review: This is quite simply an amazing book. It uses the older component notation to give an rather complete treatment of the basics of GR in something like 69 pages. It is beautiful and elegant like all of P.A.M Dirac's papers and books. There is no global formalism and the book is not comprehensive but it is a great treatment. One work of caution. The reader who has already had some GR may find it more approachable. But I do not believe this is necessarily true.