The Special Theory of Relativity

The present book is intended, as far as possible, to give an exact insight into the theory of

Relativity to those readers who, from a general scientific and philosophical point of view, are

interested in the theory, but who are not conversant with the mathematical apparatus of

theoretical physics. The work presumes a standard of education corresponding to that of a

university matriculation examination, and, despite the shortness of the book, a fair amount

of patience and force of will on the part of the reader. The author has spared

himself no pains in his endeavor to present the main ideas in the simplest and most

intelligible form, and on the whole, in the sequence and connection in which they actually

originated. In the interest of clearness, it appeared to me inevitable that I should

repeat myself frequently, without paying the slightest attention to the elegance of the

presentation. I adhered scrupulously to the precept of that brilliant theoretical physicist L.

Boltzmann, according to whom matters of elegance ought to be left to the tailor and

to the cobbler. I make no pretence of having withheld from the reader difficulties which

are inherent to the subject.