Einstein's Jury: The Race to Test Relativity

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 428 pages
• Published by: Princeton University Press May 30, 2006
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0691123101
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0691123103
• Book Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Weighs: 1.6 pounds

From Publishers Weekly
In prose not readily accessible to the average reader, science writer Crelinsten, who has written radio and film documentaries about Einstein, explores how the theory of relativity was greeted by members of the astronomical community. By focusing on astronomers rather than the theoretical physicists more often associated with Einstein, he offers new insights. Crelinsten presents the surprising fact that virtually all astronomers engaged in crafting the empirical tests of relativity for a period of almost two decades had very little understanding of the theoretical physics and mathematics underlying Einstein's principles. Nonetheless, astronomers from around the world spent years chasing solar eclipses in an attempt to gather data, and each held strong opinions about whether or not Einstein's theory was correct. Crelinsten is best when discussing the attacks on Einstein and his theory, demonstrating that some arose from ignorance, some from petty jealousy and some from anti-Semitism. He uses the introduction of the theory of relativity to present a case study of how innovative scientific ideas enter both the scientific community and the consciousness of the general public. Crelinsten provides so much astronomical detail, however, that only true aficionados are likely to remain interested throughout. black and white photographs and illus. (Aug.)
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Suman Seth, American Scientist
"The book remains an impressive one throughout."

Reader Reviews
I am a staff member at the UCO/Lick Observatory, one of the major venues where the action takes place in this book. Astronomers at Lick were one of two major groups who actually verified beyond scientific doubt the validity of Einstein's general theory of relativity, according to this absorbing tale told with verve by Crelinsten. You would think that the facts related here would be well known to me and my colleagues, but such is not the case. Most of us had been educated to believe that the decisive test of GR was the light-bending measurement by Eddington at the 1919 eclipse. That test was very important but, according to Crelinsten, did not conclusively prove the theory to the satisfaction of the scientific community. It was later work, mostly at Lick and at Mt. Wilson, that did this. I was delighted to learn that my predecessors at Lick were so important in the development of modern cosmology and even more please to read the story so delightfully told by Crelinsten. Comment | | (Report this)