Customer Reviews

Albert Einstein: The Incorrigible Plagiarist

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

The first chapter gives many quotes from people who accused Einstein of [not being original]. It also directly quotes Einstein and the papers he copied. The second chapter gives the history of space-time or as it was first called in 1885 time-space. It is interesting that Einstein not only did not create this idea but he argued against it until the general theory of relativity. This chapter is really fascinating and shows why Popper called Einstein Parmenides. The third chapter gives quotes from physicists who wrote that the theory of relativity is really a new theory of absolutism and is more absolutist than Newtonian physics. The fourth chapter discusses hero worship and gives a good quote from Joffe. This chapter is too short and too choppy. It should have been a major part of the book. The fifth chapter starts off a little polemic. It also is too short. The interesting and novel fact here is the quote from S. Tolver Preston. The sixth chapter is for all of us who have read Einstein's seminal paper on the theory of relativity and knew there was something wrong there. I read a paper by Bjerknes at the official web site for the book and it goes into more detail. This is a very important criticism and it shows how Einstein was able to fool people. The seventh chapter could easily have been an extension of the sixth. The eight chapter, like the first, is a real blockbuster. It was probably Einstein's wife who [was doing the unoriginal work]! This chapter has many good and interesting quotes and talks about the pattern of [unoriginal work]. The last chapter discusses why Einstein told some silly stories about his inspiration and proves that these stories are also unoriginal. There is a statement about the Michelson-Morley experiment and what it shows and how it has been misconstrued to support the special theory of relativity. Einstein's misogony again appears in his insestuous second marriage and the likely sexual affairs with his stepdaughters. The chapter concludes with what is essentially the most extensive bibliography of the general theory of relativity ever published. The second half of the book is an amazingly detailed set of notes and references that should prevent even the most die hard Einstein geek from daring to give the book one star. I am concerned that there appears to be a concerted effort to pan this book by people who obviously haven't read it. They try everything from attacking the publisher to attacking the reviewers. What they don't do is talk about the specifics of the book. I would not trust any review that gives this book one star and then gives a vague criticism that only proves the person hasn't read it. I would also be doubtful about any review that gives a paranoid diatribe but doesn't mention a single page in the book. There are a lot of people who earn their livings off of Einstein. There are also many people who are very emotionally attached to his image. Look at the "Editorial Reviews." They are more believable and favorable.

The writer demonstrates conclusively that Albert Einstein was a plagiarist who seldom acknowledged his indebtedness to previous researchers. It cannot have been mere coincidence that his discoveries matched those of previous researchers who were never given credit and whose discoveries preceded his own, as he took credit and "stardom" for the work of others. The evidence compiled here is the result of careful research and not of idle bias and is conclusive: Albert Einstein was a plagiarist, a fact known to many at the time, but since his death, the evidence has mounted and is convincing.

I was skeptical when I saw the title, but this is definitely a five star read! I was shocked and amazed that there was so much information I did not know. I never heard of S. Tolver Preston before, who apparently was a well known physicist in the 19th century, or many others discussed in this book, or their contributions, or story of Lumen; even though I read most of Einstein's biographies and science history books. I am grateful for this book, in which a more complete history is recorded, because the people who had the ideas deserve the credit for their ideas. This is one of those few books today, a book for inquisitive minds.

The author of this book makes the point that Einstein's first wife might written much (or all)of the theory of relativity. This contention is reinforced by the fact that Einstein mysteriously gave all of his Nobel prize money to his first wife, the equally brilliant Mileva Marić supposedly as part of a divorce settlement. For decades there has been a continuing rumor that this was done to buy her buy her silence not only about her contributions to the theory of relativity but to other discoveries claimed by Einstein during the period of their marriage which ended in 1916. This period was by far his most productive.

The author has gone to painstaking lengths to provide references for every claim.

This work will be used by future generations to set the record straight.

But for those who don't know, in physics:

Einstein's 4D spacetime is named "MINKOWSKI SPACETIME" after it's discover Hermann Minkowski.

Einstein's coordinate transformations between observers is called a "LORENTZ TRANSFORMATION" after Hendrik Lorentz.

Einstein's entire set of transformations in spacetime is called the "POINCARE GROUP" after Henry Poincare.

That being said, Einstein DID play an important role in fixing the conceptual errors leading to Special Relativity. He was one of many central figures crucial to the development of that theory. Unfortunately, the media promotes him as the sole inventor.

The case for General Relativity is compelling. It looks like Einstein actually plagiarized Hilbert 100% in terms of mathematical formulation of theory. It looks like Hilbert used the conceptual framework offered by Einstein to develop the full mathematical formulation of the theory.

It is often the case that the original conceivers of the idea are not credited with the discovery of it when the full mathematical model is developed. In the case of Einstein, he gets ALL THE CREDIT even after he probably plagiarized the mathematical formulation of it.

Obviously controversial, this book nevertheless contains numerous valuable references and quotations and gives a complete and documented history of the theory of relativity. Everyone "in the know" realizes that Einstein relied upon his first wife, and that Lorentz and Poincare developed the special theory of relativity before Einstein and his first wife. But the history doesn't end there and this book shows Lorentz's and Poincare's sources for the "Lorentz transformation" and the principle of relativity and "time-space". After quoting from many of Einstein's fellow physicists, and raising doubts in your mind about Einstein, the book then quotes the original sources and Einstein's words, which sound hauntingly familiar. It is hard not to draw the conclusion that there is nothing new under the sun. Most people who know that Einstein did not create the special theory of relativity believe that he did originate the general theory of relativity, but I now have my doubts. E = mc^2, space-time, the a-bomb, they all have a history before Einstein and Minkowski, an extensive history as this book shows. I found chapter 6, Einstein's modus operandi, especially ineresting. I used to think Einstein was brilliant with the two postulate deduction of the Lorentz transformation. It never occured to me that Einstein might have just begged the question. Almost every statement is documented with a reference, which is important in a book this controversial. I checked a couple of the ones I doubted, and they all checked out. After I read the book, I went back and read some of Einstein's papers and his book "Relativity, the special and the general theory". Einstein sure didn't go out of his way to acknowledge his sources. I don't know if you can absolutely prove that someone was a plagiarist or not, but I believe this book is credible and logical and very well documented. There is an amazing amount of information in it. I am curious about what skeletons will creep out of the closet now that this book is out. The social and historical aspects of the issue are also very intriguing. There certainly is a lot of undeserved hero worship for Einstein. The book shows the facts that Lange and Bateman published articles asking for acknowledgement of their ideas, which they published before Einstein. It is fascinating that they weren't able to get their names in the history books. After reading the book, my whole view of Einstein changed. He was just a guy who was thrust into the spotlight and given credit for every idea in modern physics. I don't know how much he stole credit and how much he was just wrongly given it. I do see the need for this book to set the record straight, with the facts. It does a good job of that. Even if Einstein wasn't a plagiarist, it is really weird that the facts prove that he didn't create the theory of relativity, but almost everyone thinks that he did. Almost everyone also thinks that Newton discovered gravity, but that's not true, either.

After reading and rereading this book it is clear to me that Einstein plagiarized the principle of relativity and the use of light signals to synchronize clocks from Poincare. Einstein did not first propose space-time, Poincare did. I think most of the reviews here miss an important point. This book is organized like a legal argument that carries you back in time and lets you read the original material, some of it very hard to find. Einstein is on trial, accused of plagiarism by his contemporaries, and many leading figures since, and I, the reader, get to judge who and what is right with very accurate information I can't find gathered together anywhere else. Even more important than this are the insights into relativity theory you get from reading this book. It must have been a Herculean task to assemble all these quotations and facts into a logical order, and to prove what is being said, by showing the reader, and by teaching the reader, without to much intervention by the author. What do these facts say about the ethics, integrity and competency of the historians who have led us to believe that Einstein created all of these ideas? My verdict is that Einstein is guilty of plagiarism. My verdict on the book is that it is important in many ways which go far beyond simply proving that Einstein was plagiarist. I think there is an ethical responsibility to stop defending and promoting Einstein and to give credit to the rightful authors of the theory of relativity. I commend Bjerknes for doing so, and may God protect him from the nuts who see some evil plot in his book.

It is good to see that the public will finally know the truth about Einstein and about the theory of relativity. I remember back in the fifties and sixties when this debate raged in the physics world and the arguments were bitter and meanspirited. This book gives the facts and many wonderful references. Those reading it should realize that Bjerknes only exposes the tip of the iceberg. The Kaluza-Klein theory is another good example of Einstein's plagiarism. Bjerknes's treatment of the history of the time-space idea is especially good. As a retired physicist, I highly recommend this book!

I find this book to rely upon highly credible sources. I think Minkowski, Pauli, Born, Nordmann, Einstein, Maric, Robb, Bateman, Poincare, Lorentz, Keswani, Whittaker, Joffe, Danin, etc. are certainly credible sources, when their statements agree with the historical record. What is most important, is that the sources of opinion are backed up with the original source material in a detailed chronology laid out before your eyes. It is simply a set of indisputable facts. If you want to know the truth, read this book. The references are truly a gold mine!

I was particularly struck by the fact that the "Theory of Relativity" isn't a relativistic theory, but is absolutism, in Einstein's own words. I liked the many quotations which flow flawlessly in a logical sequence. It gave me many insights into the theory I would not otherwise have had. I didn't know that the space-time idea is an ancient idea. I had never heard of Preston, Lange, Marcolongo, Palagyi, Varicak, Bateman, etc. I didn't know about Flammarion's story of Lumen or Poe's Eureka, which by the way are available on the web. Bjerknes is eloquent. He has carefully, though seemingly effortlessly, crafted an irrefutable argument. The writing is indeed scholarly, entertaining and intellectual. The proof is all there with the original words next to Einstein's plagiarized words. It is amazing how thorough this book is. I can't find many of the names and facts I find in Albert Einstein: The Incorrigible Plagiarist in any of the other histories. For a historian of science, it is a treasure chest of rare gems. I like the sharp focus it holds and the immense volume of information it shares. The book has the finest set of references for the theory of relativity available anywhere.