Customer Reviews

Einstein Plus Two

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although I agree with physicist Edward Teller that the late Dr. Beckmann was wrong about special relativity, this book outlines a mathematically consistent theory of electrodynamics and gravity designed to rescue Newton's classic assumptions of absolute space and time from what he calls the "acrobatics" of relativity. Engrossing for readers of a technical bent (Astronomy, Popular Mechanics, Electronics, etc.) who want to be challenged. Those of you who would rather swill beer and read Esquire need not apply. This book is written with poise, humility, and humor (like the much loved History of Pi), virtues not found among the more paranoid cranks decrying Einstein.

This book uses Maxwell's Equations and classical mechanics to derive Planck's Constant and the Schrödinger Equation. Beckmann does an excellent job of debunking Einstein's relativity theories by showing their conceptual flaws in logic. Beckmann's central theory is that the speed of light is constant with respect to the source of the dominant gravitational field, not the observer. This view is supported by all known experimental evidence, e.g., the earth-centered inertial (ECI) reference frame and GPS.

Later critique has discovered a flaw in the second half of this text regarding Beckmann's definition for aberration. Nevertheless, Beckmann's writing style is very witty and entertaining.

In East-Indian cosmology, there are 4 basic building blocks of the universe: 1) sound (OM) or "The Word" as in St. John, 2) Time, 3) Space, and 4) The Atom. I side with Beckmann, Ives, Michelson and Lorentz.

There is so much to enjoy in this book. If you get your hands on this book, even for a moment, at least read the preface and the introduction. They are brilliant and short. His "Grandiose Theory of the Railroad Track" shows Beckmann's humor and his insight. I also love Mr. Beckmann's simple statement that "a theory that does not recognize the equality of action and reaction cannot, without apology, invoke the conservation of momentum." [p.77]

Weymouth doesn't sound like he even read the book. If he had, he might wonder why the author theorizes that the local gravitational field acts as a medium for light, since we've known since the last century that light travels in a vacuum. It doesn't need a medium, so Beckmann's self-published argument falls apart.

Even if it did, why should we assume that it doesn't rotate, except of course out of convenience for the sake of this bizarre theory? The earth's magnetic field rotates, so its gravitational field likely does too, and recent findings by astronomers have shown strong preliminary evidence to that effect (the Gravity Proble B experiment is designed to confirm this "frame-dragging effect" predicted by Einstein).

The guy up the top there is a big snob.Drinking beer has no direct relation to your I.Q. So up yours buddy. I drink and have understood the book probably better than he would ever dream. So if you are smart you will get a lot more out of the book.