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The Boy Who Invented Television: A Story of Inspiration, Persistence and Quiet Passion
Here's a little known Every video screen on the planet – including the one you are looking at now – can trace its origins to a sketch that a 14-year-old farm boy drew for his high school science teacher in 1922.
His name was Philo T. Farnsworth.
The Boy Who Invented Television is the definitive account of the life and legacy of a once-in-a-century genius – and the epic breakthrough that produced the most ubiquitous appliance on the planet.
Compiled and written over several decades, this intimate biograpjy draws largely on the author's personal relationship with the Farnsworth family and surviving colleagues that began in the mid-1970s – just a few years after the inventor's untimely passing at the age of 64.
Schatzkin was the first to unearth this riveting story of one inventor's determination to resist the juggernaut of David Sarnoff's RCA to dominate video as it had radio. Schatzkin's diligent independent research corroborates a narrative that has been largely swept under the rug of 20th century corporate public relations.
With intimate insights into the technical challenges of developing his invention and Farnsworth's vision of building a sustainable, independent company, this book will change readers' perspective on the screen that dominates modern life. From its pages you'll learn...
...how Philo Farnsworth distilled the fundamentals of electronic video when he was only 14 years old!
...how the groundbreaking theories of Albert Einstein made television possible.
...how the legal struggles Farnsworth endured resulted in his relatively obscurity today, and...
...how the insights that made television possible led him a viable approach to the Holy Grail of modern nuclear fusion.
The Boy Who Invented Television is a 'must read' for anybody who watches television.
First published in 2002, this 2023 reissue includes a new Foreword that ties this book to the author's newest release, The Man Who Mastered Gravity (ASIN #B0BYQ41GM6), and an Afterword account of more recent events recognizing Farnworth's indispensible contribution – including his induction into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame in 2013.
Treat yourself to the incredible story that comes alive everytime you turn on your TeeVee - or look at your smartphone!
His name was Philo T. Farnsworth.
The Boy Who Invented Television is the definitive account of the life and legacy of a once-in-a-century genius – and the epic breakthrough that produced the most ubiquitous appliance on the planet.
Compiled and written over several decades, this intimate biograpjy draws largely on the author's personal relationship with the Farnsworth family and surviving colleagues that began in the mid-1970s – just a few years after the inventor's untimely passing at the age of 64.
Schatzkin was the first to unearth this riveting story of one inventor's determination to resist the juggernaut of David Sarnoff's RCA to dominate video as it had radio. Schatzkin's diligent independent research corroborates a narrative that has been largely swept under the rug of 20th century corporate public relations.
With intimate insights into the technical challenges of developing his invention and Farnsworth's vision of building a sustainable, independent company, this book will change readers' perspective on the screen that dominates modern life. From its pages you'll learn...
...how Philo Farnsworth distilled the fundamentals of electronic video when he was only 14 years old!
...how the groundbreaking theories of Albert Einstein made television possible.
...how the legal struggles Farnsworth endured resulted in his relatively obscurity today, and...
...how the insights that made television possible led him a viable approach to the Holy Grail of modern nuclear fusion.
The Boy Who Invented Television is a 'must read' for anybody who watches television.
First published in 2002, this 2023 reissue includes a new Foreword that ties this book to the author's newest release, The Man Who Mastered Gravity (ASIN #B0BYQ41GM6), and an Afterword account of more recent events recognizing Farnworth's indispensible contribution – including his induction into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame in 2013.
Treat yourself to the incredible story that comes alive everytime you turn on your TeeVee - or look at your smartphone!
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2002
99 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 16, 2025
Hidden Genius
We all see through a glass darkly, but not Philo Farnsworth. After almost a century this hidden genius, to most, is finally being illuminated. Beyond what he saw to fruition (television) there is the spark of fusion. This he also saw, and in truly seeing, he hid. Mankind was not ready for the power of fusion. What was written on those torn journal pages? I guess we will figure it out when we are collectively ready.
We all see through a glass darkly, but not Philo Farnsworth. After almost a century this hidden genius, to most, is finally being illuminated. Beyond what he saw to fruition (television) there is the spark of fusion. This he also saw, and in truly seeing, he hid. Mankind was not ready for the power of fusion. What was written on those torn journal pages? I guess we will figure it out when we are collectively ready.
February 28, 2023
An enjoyable book if a bit worshipful rather like most books on Tesla. Broadcasting electricity doesn't work and neither does the Fusor. That aside the invention of television is a fascinating story as is the story of the little guy taking on RCA and Sarnoff, who was along with Bill Gates one of the greatest industrial thieves of all time.
The book does a good job of explaining things in layman's terms and it is easy to follow. The ups and downs of a creative inventive genius' life are well charted. Worth reading for anyone interested in the history of TV and invention.
The book does a good job of explaining things in layman's terms and it is easy to follow. The ups and downs of a creative inventive genius' life are well charted. Worth reading for anyone interested in the history of TV and invention.
December 5, 2022
I have always marveled at the existence of television and wondered “where it came from”. This book is not only a biography of this boy genius but an answer to that question. The physics of it is pretty easy to understand if you have the basics of chemistry and I thought it was really interesting and well written.
August 16, 2024
This book could have been interesting, but it just isn't. It's main fault is that the author feels the need to dramatize the most mundane things, like going on a honeymoon, which, again, just wasn't that interesting. Even though the book is short, it should have been shorter with more of the fat cut.
October 2, 2023
A good man, inventor sent from God but mankind did not appreciate him.
If I highlighted vital parts of this book, almost every line would be marked. This is such an important read! I feel blessed that he was born and sad that he was not acknowledged in his lifetime.
If I highlighted vital parts of this book, almost every line would be marked. This is such an important read! I feel blessed that he was born and sad that he was not acknowledged in his lifetime.
October 28, 2024
Very entertaining read about what is arguably one of the biggest inventions of the last century. At least one with the most impact on our daily lives. Can't imagine what he would have invented if he lived longer.
January 7, 2025
Interesting insight of of brilliant young man and the tough competition in the early days of technology. The book wandered around a little too much. Going back and forth at times with little continuity. Overall an informative book.
October 3, 2025
One of the best biographies I've ever read, Farnsworth went through hardship after hardship in order to bring television to the masses. Not only that but his work on nuclear fusion was also very interesting.
July 9, 2018
Loved reading about Philo T Farnsworth.
July 4, 2023
A very interesting history of the unknown inventor of TV
February 3, 2024
The Exciting Invention of Television
A hard to put down easy read! Written in a story format that will intrigue anyone who loves history or stories of invention.
A hard to put down easy read! Written in a story format that will intrigue anyone who loves history or stories of invention.
August 16, 2010
This is the true story of Philo T. Farnsworth, an under-educated farm boy who invented television. It covers the invention process, but also the issues that go along with that. Financial backers wanting results, rivals trying to prevent him from driving his ideas forward, and even some industrial espionage. The birthing process of television was frought with hazards, both personal and professional. The ammount of time it took to come to market is a clear indicator of that.
Philo Farnsworth is an unmitigated genious, one of the sharpest minds of all time. Yet he is largly forgotten. It is unfortunate, because his name should be mentioned with the likes of Bell, Edison, Davinci and even Einstien. The book is well written. The story is compelling.
Philo Farnsworth is an unmitigated genious, one of the sharpest minds of all time. Yet he is largly forgotten. It is unfortunate, because his name should be mentioned with the likes of Bell, Edison, Davinci and even Einstien. The book is well written. The story is compelling.
March 4, 2011
Fantastic story of a boy genius. We are spellbound by his inventions that enable us to enter the world of Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" with its giant wall screen TVs. I got the impression from this book that Farnsworth himself probably did not watch television. For him it was merely a vision to realize and proceed on to loftier goals. A big fan of Einstein, who he talked to once, Philo Farnsworth's ultimate challenge was to reach out into the universe. He once told his wife, "one day we will travel to the stars." A worthy goal, but for many of us, we are quite satisfied to watch others do things on our televisions.
September 18, 2009
I read this book about 18 months ago. When I finished the last page, all I wanted to do was pray. Maybe it was an extreme feeling of reverence that made me feel that way. This man sacrificed so much, went through so much. His life and work would make a terrific movie..yet, the book is so much better than any 2 hour movie could be. Philo T. Farnsworth invented television...he got the idea as a 14 year old farm boy who loved electricity. This book is on my Top 100 List! I will defintiely read it again!
December 31, 2007
I picked up this book after "Carter Beats the Devil" (Farnsworth is a character in that book), and was amazed. Phil Farnsworth conceived the idea of television at age eleven, making his first experiments on his family farm. A classic Horatio Alger story, and extremely well written, this is one of my favorite inventor biographies available (alond with "Copies in Seconds" and "Mauve".)
January 19, 2012
Biography of the inventor of, among many other cool things, television, Philo T. Farnsworth.
I read it in the context of my project to build a Farnsworth Fusor. I learned many things from reading it and it is actually pretty exciting once you get started.
I read it in the context of my project to build a Farnsworth Fusor. I learned many things from reading it and it is actually pretty exciting once you get started.
October 11, 2013
not terribly scholastic, but a very interesting story. it makes me wonder what this biography has that the ones written by Fransworth's wife and friend didn't. Fransworth is a fascinating person and that makes this a worthwhile read
January 6, 2012
Great story, which would have benefitted from better editing.
September 6, 2009
A really great story of an all-to-often forgotten genius...
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews