Step into the world of Thomas Edison as Randall E. Stross unravels the life of this icon of innovation in 'The Wizard of Menlo Park.' Discover the untold stories behind his inventions, the fierce competition he faced, and the eccentric personality that drove him. Delve into the birth of modern technology through the lens of Edison's Menlo Park laboratory, a hub of creativity and ambition. As you read, you'll uncover not just the genius of Edison, but also the societal changes his inventions sparked. Prepare to be captivated by the spirit of invention that echoes through time!
By Randall E. Stross
Published: 2008
"Genius is not just a product of the mind, but also of the heart and the relentless pursuit of possibility."
Thomas Edison’s greatest invention? His own fame. At the height of his fame Thomas Alva Edison was hailed as “the Napoleon of invention” and blazed in the public imagination as a virtual demigod. Starting with the first public demonstrations of the phonograph in 1878 and extending through the development of incandescent light and the first motion picture cameras, Edison’s name became emblematic of all the wonder and promise of the emerging age of technological marvels. But as Randall Stross makes clear in this critical biography of the man who is arguably the most globally famous of all Americans, Thomas Edison’s greatest invention may have been his own celebrity. Edison was certainly a technical genius, but Stross excavates the man from layers of myth-making and separates his true achievements from his almost equally colossal failures. How much credit should Edison receive for the various inventions that have popularly been attributed to him—and how many of them resulted from both the inspiration and the perspiration of his rivals and even his own assistants? This bold reassessment of Edison’s life and career answers this and many other important questions while telling the story of how he came upon his most famous inventions as a young man and spent the remainder of his long life trying to conjure similar success. We also meet his partners and competitors, presidents and entertainers, his close friend Henry Ford, the wives who competed with his work for his attention, and the children who tried to thrive in his shadow—all providing a fuller view of Edison’s life and times than has ever been offered before. The Wizard of Menlo Park reveals not only how Edison worked, but how he managed his own fame, becoming the first great celebrity of the modern age.
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“Genius is not just a product of the mind, but also of the heart and the relentless pursuit of possibility.”
The Wizard of Menlo Park
By Randall E. Stross
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Randall E. Stross is an acclaimed author and journalist known for his insightful analysis of technology, business, and culture. His notable works include 'The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Edison Invented the Modern World', 'Steve Jobs and the Apple Revolution', and 'The Future of Business: How the New Energies of the 21st Century Will Transform Business'. Stross's writing style is characterized by thorough research, engaging narratives, and a keen ability to distill complex concepts into accessible prose, making his works appealing to both general readers and industry professionals.
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