This is a book review of Gravity: An Introduction to Einstein's General Relativity by James B. Hartle.
Gravity: An Introduction to Einstein's General Relativity, by James B. Hartle (Cambridge University Press), 2021. Pp. 604, 24 x 19.5 cm. Price £44.99/$59.99 (hardbound, ISBN 978 1 316 51754 3).
It aims to "teach the basic physics first, stress real-world applications, and leave the mathematical framework for later". Although perhaps best known for topics such as quantum cosmology, Hartle's book is very down to Earth (to the extent that that is possible for a book on GR). This is probably my favourite book on GR at this level. It should appeal to those who also like the physics-first approach, and be accessible to those with an undergraduate-level understanding of mechanics. Practically no other knowledge of physics is assumed, and more advanced mathematics is presented in enough detail as needed. As such, it is probably a good choice for those with a background in astronomy, astrophysics, and/or cosmology who want to learn GR at more than a qualitative level.