Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Preface ix
4. Timeline xiii
5. Prologue: The song of the universe 1
6. Part I
7. 1. A friendly contest between the four interactions 9
8. 2. Gravity is absurdly weak 15
9. 3. Detection of electromagnetic waves 25
10. 4. From water waves to gravity waves 31
11. Part II
12. 5. Spooky action at a distance 37
13. 6. Greatness and audacity: enter the field 40
14. 7. Einstein, the exterminator of relativity 51
15. 8. Einstein’s idea: spacetime becomes curved 57
16. 9. How to detect something as ethereal as ripples in spacetime 66
17. Part III
18. 10. Getting the best possible deal 77
19. 11. Symmetry: Physics must not depend on the physicist 88
20. 12. Yes, I want the best deal, but, what is the deal? 91
21. 13. The action for Einstein gravity 100
22. 14. It must be 102
23. Part IV
24. 15. From frozen star to black hole 107
25. 16. The quantum world and Hawking radiation 115
26. 17. Gravitons and the nature of gravity 123
27. 18. Mysterious messages from the dark side 131
28. 19. A new window to the cosmos 140
29. Appendix: What does curved spacetime mean? 143
30. Postscript 151
31. Notes 153
32. Bibliography 167
33. Index 169