Gravitation - Classic Text | Alexandria
Gravitation (1973), coauthored by Charles Misner, Kip Thorne, and John Archibald Wheeler, stands as one of the most influential and comprehensive treatises on Einstein's theory of general relativity ever published. Commonly known as "MTW" after its authors' initials, this 1,279-page masterwork revolutionized the teaching and understanding of gravitational physics, earning its informal title as "The Bible of General Relativity."
The book emerged during a pivotal era in theoretical physics, when interest in general relativity was experiencing a renaissance after decades of relative dormancy. Wheeler, already renowned for his work on nuclear fission and black holes (a term he popularized), envisioned a text that would not merely explain Einstein's theories but fundamentally transform how they were taught and understood. The project began in the early 1960s at Princeton University, where Wheeler mentored both Misner and Thorne, leading to a unique collaboration that would span over a decade.
MTW broke new ground through its innovative pedagogical approach, combining rigorous mathematics with physical insight and Wheeler's characteristic poetic flair. The text introduced revolutionary teaching tools, including the "track 1, track 2" system that allowed readers to follow either a basic or advanced path through the material. Perhaps most notably, it popularized the geometric approach to general relativity, emphasizing spacetime curvature through vivid analogies and pioneering diagrams that remain standard in physics education today.
The legacy of Gravitation extends far beyond its immediate impact on physics education. Its distinctive black cover and imposing heft earned it the nickname "The Telephone Book," while its comprehensive treatment of theoretical gravity has influenced generations of physicists. Wheeler's distinctive linguistic contributions, including phrases like "mass tells spacetime how to curve, spacetime tells mass how to move," have become part of the standard lexicon of physics. Today, as gravitational wave astronomy opens new windows into the universe and quantum gravity remains one of physics' great unsolved mysteries, MTW continues to serve as both a practical reference and an inspiration to those seeking to understand the fundamental nature of space, time, and gravity.