Tesla cover art

Tesla

Inventor of the Modern

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About this listen

Nikola Tesla, a Serbian immigrant, invented the radio, the induction motor, the neon lamp, and the remote control. His breakthrough came in alternating current, the basis of the electric grid and long-distance electrical transmission. This pitted him against Thomas Edison's direct current empire, and bitter patent battles ensued.

But Tesla's technology was superior, and eventually, he prevailed. Unfortunately, he had no business sense and could not capitalize on this success. His most advanced ideas were unrecognized for decades: 40 years in the case of the radio patent; longer still for his ideas on laser beam technology.

Tesla's personal life was magnificently bizarre. Strikingly handsome and impeccably dressed, he was germophobic and never shook hands. He required nine napkins when he sat down to dinner. In later years, he ate only white food and conversed with the pigeons in Bryant Park. This clear, authoritative, and highly enjoyable biography takes account of all phases of this remarkable life.

©2018 Richard Munson (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books History History & Philosophy Professionals & Academics Science Science & Technology Technology Inspiring
All stars
Most relevant
Well written and performed I really enjoyed this account of tesla’s life, a often forgotten genius and architect of the modern world

Genius

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Amazing story. I literally had no idea, I thought this was going to be about the company Tesla. Glad it wasn’t, made me instantly smarter.

Loved this

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Most memorable is probably the relations that tesla made and his multi-sided life. Where on one hand he came from religion and on the other strive for science and poetry.

Nice telling of his life

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An accessible barely technical account of the man focusing on the personal & business life that isn't really his legacy.

Overlong Tesla story for the insight offered

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