General relativity is one of the most profound statements in science. It is a theory of gravity
that allows us to model the large-scale structure of the Universe to understand and explain
the motions and workings of stars to reveal how gravity interacts with light waves and even
how it hosts its own gravitational waves. It is central to our notions of where the Universe
comes from and what its eventual fate might be. For those wishing to learn physics general
relativity enjoys a dubious distinction. It is frequently viewed as a difficult theory whose
mastery is a rite of passage into the world of advanced physics and is described in an array of
unforgiving weighty textbooks aimed firmly at aspiring professionals. Written by
experimental physicists and aimed at providing the interested amateur with a bridge from
undergraduate physics to general relativity this book is designed to be different. The
imagined reader is a gifted amateur possessing a curious and adaptable mind looking to be told
an entertaining and intellectually stimulating story but who will not feel patronised if a few
mathematical niceties are spelled out in detail. Using numerous worked examples diagrams and
careful physically motivated explanations this book will smooth the path towards understanding
the radically different and revolutionary view of the physical world that general relativity
provides and which all physicists should have the opportunity to experience.
