Edison: A Life of Invention

The definitive biography of the century's godfather ofinvention-from the preeminent Edison scholar

"Israel's meticulous research and refusal to shy away from thedodgier aspects of Edison's personality offers a fresh glimpse intothe life of the inventor."-New Scientist

"Remarkable."-Nature

"An authoritative look into Edison's working methods, here leavenedby enough personal detail to give the achievementsshape."-Publishers Weekly

"Highly recommended."

"Israel's book should go a long way toward taking Edison out of theshadows and placing him in the proper light."-AtlantaJournal-Constitution

"Exhaustively researched, with strong emphasis on Edison's methodsand achievements."-Kirkus Reviews

The conventional story of Thomas Edison reads more like myth thanhistory: With only three months of formal education, a hardworkingyoung man overcomes the odds and becomes one of the greatestinventors in history. But the portrait that emerges from Edison: ALife of Invention reveals a man of genius and astonishing foresightwhose career was actually a product of his fast-changing era. Inthis peerless biography, Paul Israel exposes for the first time theman behind the inventions, expertly situating his subject within athoroughly realized portrait of a burgeoning country on the brinkof massive change. Informed by Israel's unprecedented access toworkshop diaries, notebooks, letters, and more than five millionpages of archives, this definitive biography brings fresh insightsto a singularly influential and triumphant career in science.