This excellent, semi-technical account includes a review of classical physics (origin of space and time measurements, Ptolemaic and Copernican astronomy, laws of motion, inertia, and more) and coverage of Einstein's special and general theories of relativity, discussing the concept of simultaneity, kinematics, Einstein's mechanics and dynamics, and more.
Relativity and Geometry by Roberto Torretti High-level study discusses Newtonian principles and 19th-century views on electrodynamics and the aether and covers Einstein's electrodynamics of moving bodies, Minkowski geometry, and other topics.
The Theory of the Relativity of Motion by Richard C. Tolman This classic early introduction to Einstein's theory, written by a prominent physicist, provides an excellent introduction for the uninitiated and the necessary methods for those pursuing the theory's more complicated applications. 1917 edition.
The Unity of the Universe by D. W. Sciama This accessible approach uses compelling photos, figures, and examples to address and answer profound questions about the universe. "An engrossing book, an invigorating intellectual exercise." — Scientific American. 1959 edition.
