For a layman's mathematical understanding of relativity I recommend "Why does E=mc^2" by brian cox and jeff forshaw, which explains both the theory and why the equations used to describe the theory, well, describe the theory. It does it all with a nice just-so narrative that builds on physics from galileo all the way through to einstein and ends up at particle physics. It's just a very good book.
Comments
For a layman's mathematical understanding of relativity I recommend "Why does E=mc^2" by brian cox and jeff forshaw, which explains both the theory and why the equations used to describe the theory, well, describe the theory. It does it all with a nice just-so narrative that builds on physics from galileo all the way through to einstein and ends up at particle physics. It's just a very good book.