Relativity is one of the greatest achievements of 20th-century physics, yet we physicists are reluctant to teach it to anyone but advanced students. This is a missed opportunity because lots of people are interested in relativity and there are few real barriers for beginners. You don't need much prior knowledge of math or physics (only some basic geometry and algebra) to gain a complete a complete understanding of special relativity (which includes topics such as how we can travel into the future faster, and E=mc2). Mostly you need to practice disciplined thinking in terms of reasoning from assumptions to conclusions, and being able to identify why an apparently counterintuitive conclusion does not actually violate your assumptions. And that's what makes it a great college course for general education.
General relativity (GR, which includes black holes and gravitational waves) does require a lot of math for a complete understanding, but this does not justify leaving GR entirely out of a general education course on relativity. For GR a conceptual understanding is goal enough, and the important concepts can be taught in a way that builds on (and reinforces understanding of) special relativity.
In 2009 I decided to teach a course like this. There was no textbook that really matched the course, so I used bits of various textbooks and resources. I soon realized that I needed a unified textbook, so I started writing one. I taught the course several more times with different drafts of my book, and after many years The Elements of Relativity is finally ready for public consumption.
Although the book is for beginners, it is not fluff; it makes you think. If you enjoy thinking and you're interested in relativity, this book is for you. The book would also help physics majors solidify their understanding, if their formal training has emphasized mathematical over conceptual understanding.
You can order the book directly from Oxford University Press, or from Amazon.
