Customer Reviews

Radio Tesla

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A enlightning book, of great interest to all, would like to see more like this,Tesla was a great man and we can learn from him

George Trinkaus is author and publisher of some half-dozen books on Nikola Tesla, and related subjects. While I have written this review specifically for Trinkaus's, "Radio Tesla," it largely applies to his other books as well.

I have three good things to say and one not-so-good. First the good:

1) The books are moderately priced at... to.... And while they do have a slightly primitive, self-published look, the printing and production quality are adequate - no color, though.
2) Trinkaus provides an affordable way of acquiring certain Tesla literature, otherwise hard to obtain.
3) Trinkaus provides a source of "retro technology" - you know: how to make a radio using a blued razor blade and some paper clips - that sort of thing. Retro technology may appeal to old-timers who want to relive their youth. But it also has appeal for younger people, especially ones who have read Jules Verne. (You are marooned on an island. You have a few simple things, but no radio. So you start to think ... could I make a radio using only ...)

Here are some of the contents of "Radio Tesla:" 1) Tesla's radio principles. 2) high voltage, sudden pulse, 3) Tesla's transmitter, 4) spark, 5) low frequency, 6) conduction through ground, 7) etheric medium, 8) grounded radio, 9) resonance, 10) earth resonance, 11) radio-free energy, 12) lament on solid state, 13) capacitive antennas, 14) studded mushroom (Wardencliff).

OK, here is the not-so-good part: Certain Trinkaus assertions smack of Tesla cultism. Trinkaus appears to support Tesla's assertions that Heinrich Hertz ("father of radio") was completely wrong in his understanding of how radio works. Furthermore (claims Trinkaus) modern engineers have turned away from Tesla and foolishly followed Hertz. How can this be? Certainly Hertz was only human and capable of his share of mistakes. But science requires that theories be constantly tested and re-examined. How could engineers possibly communicate with a spacecraft outside the solar system based on a completely erroneous theory? Isn't it much more likely that Tesla, outstripped by his colleagues in the race to develop radio, was overcome by rancor and lashed out at them?