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Tesla, Master of Lightning
This is the story of a genius--the enigmatic Nikola Tesla (1856-1943)--and his vast contribution to science. Years in the making, this thoroughly researched volume presents important new materials: archival documents and photographs; excerpts from Tesla's writings, lectures, and diaries; selections from his correspondence (some previously unpublished). By placing Tesla's patents and inventions in historical context, the book documents how aspects of television, X-rays, satellite transmission, and advance defense systems such as the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars) were foreshadowed in Tesla's work. The 250 black-and-white and duo tone images create an invaluable record of the man and his times vividly showcasing his inventions and working methods. Tesla: Master of Lightning illuminates the life and grand achievements of this eccentric wizard.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 27, 2010
This is one book with pictures that I am NOT ashamed to admit owning!
This is an excellent coffee table book as well as an enlightening read for the bookshelf. There are a lot of photographs and diagrams, but they truly enhance the experience. Think Davinci and the need for pictoral reference of his works.
Nikola Tesla was one of our largest scientific contributors in the past 150 years, and hardly anyone in America knows ANYTHING about him!!!
Tesla was surging ahead with AC electrical implementations while Edison's web of DC lines were littering New York City. Unfortunately, Tesla was NOT business savvy in any way and it was ultimately his downfall. Westinghouse bought the intellectual property for AC from Tesla and the rest is history.
His contributions to radio and long distance communications cannot be denied. This book gives an exciting portrayal of the life, eccentricity, and genius that was Tesla; sure to fascinate almost any guest you may have.
This is an excellent coffee table book as well as an enlightening read for the bookshelf. There are a lot of photographs and diagrams, but they truly enhance the experience. Think Davinci and the need for pictoral reference of his works.
Nikola Tesla was one of our largest scientific contributors in the past 150 years, and hardly anyone in America knows ANYTHING about him!!!
Tesla was surging ahead with AC electrical implementations while Edison's web of DC lines were littering New York City. Unfortunately, Tesla was NOT business savvy in any way and it was ultimately his downfall. Westinghouse bought the intellectual property for AC from Tesla and the rest is history.
His contributions to radio and long distance communications cannot be denied. This book gives an exciting portrayal of the life, eccentricity, and genius that was Tesla; sure to fascinate almost any guest you may have.
October 14, 2015
Genius is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot, and most of the time we’re just talking about someone who is a tick or two smarter than the rest of us. But Tesla was the real deal. And reading this book helps you really understand how much of a genius he was. From the very beginning, he had a grasp on the nature of electricity that no one else alive had, or perhaps even anyone today. And because he could understand its nature, he could apply it in ways that people like Edison and Marconi and Roentgen (the inventor of the x-ray) could only guess at. He took the first step that led to inventions like the wireless telegraph, the x ray, remote control, and was solely responsible for alternating current and the AC motor, which revolutionized industry.
Perhaps his invention that still hasn’t been completely understood is the Tesla coil. He understood its implications so completely that he was planning on using it for a jumping-off point for wireless energy, worldwide communication (and even communication to other planets), and had plans for a death ray that would shoot down hundreds of planes from 250 miles away.
It sounds like science fiction, and his thinking was so far ahead of much of the world that he could often make claims that people would believe, even if he meant them in jest. But despite his countless inventions and patents, he was not a businessman, and he ended up dying penniless. This is an interesting story about a fascinating man. What I find incredible is that how far ahead of his time he was; many of his concepts are being researched and pursued today.
Perhaps his invention that still hasn’t been completely understood is the Tesla coil. He understood its implications so completely that he was planning on using it for a jumping-off point for wireless energy, worldwide communication (and even communication to other planets), and had plans for a death ray that would shoot down hundreds of planes from 250 miles away.
It sounds like science fiction, and his thinking was so far ahead of much of the world that he could often make claims that people would believe, even if he meant them in jest. But despite his countless inventions and patents, he was not a businessman, and he ended up dying penniless. This is an interesting story about a fascinating man. What I find incredible is that how far ahead of his time he was; many of his concepts are being researched and pursued today.
March 21, 2008
I love to read just anything about Nikola Tesla. What a strange and interesting genius of a man! This book gives you a glimpse into his personal and public life. He was one of those special people who changed the world as we knew it and yet he was always on the verge of madness and internal chaos. He had vivid and lively visions. One came when he was just a little boy in Croatia--a vision of Niagara Falls, with giant rotating turbines and lightning. He knew then that he needed to get to America and harness the power of the falls. I found it interesting also to note the giant mess that Thomas Edison produced with his direct current idea of electricity. It was a very dangerous thing and did you know the Brooklyn Dodgers were actually named after the need for people to dodge the sparks caused by the electrical lines by the trolley in NYC? Tesla changed all that with his alternating current.
October 17, 2016
This book should be required reading in schools. Authors Margaret Cheney and Robert Uth created a masterpiece on the life of Nikola Tesla, in my opinion the greatest mind the world has ever known. From his youth in (what is now) Croatia until his final days in New York City, all of the important events, discoveries, letters, inventions and diagrams are included. The fantastic photographs alone are worth getting this book; they are plentiful throughout adding a tangible nature to things that happened so long ago and are so difficult for the average person to comprehend, like wireless transmission of energy.
I cannot fathom how Tesla’s mind worked and probably never will, but my appreciation for Tesla and what he did for modern humanity is unsurpassed. I find him the most fascinating human who ever existed (aside perhaps only Jesus Christ). And the part that hurts the most is that Tesla did so much for us yet was constantly held back because he was way too far ahead of his time. He was purposeful hindered and disregarded by those in power who either didn’t want to see him succeed (Edison) or didn’t see the profit in what he was proposing (Morgan et al).
If those in power had only listened to Tesla and followed him, the world would be even more amazing than it has become because of his inventions. We could have had free, sustainable, environmentally-friendly energy worldwide. We could have had electric cars for over 100 years. We could have had a planet without war. We could have had so much that we can barely imagine. Unfortunately the world was not ready for Tesla in 1900, and sadly it is still not ready for his ideas.
I pray that Tesla’s own prophecy comes to fruition: that the future will be his. To say he was unappreciated during his time is gross understatement. I pray humankind of the future will learn to implement his ideas, though I’m not sure our brightest minds working together today could even understand what Tesla knew well over 100 years ago.
Tesla’s was the most amazing lifetime I have ever heard of. I’m so grateful to the authors for putting this wonderful book together. I want everyone to read it and know better the mind and astounding achievements of Nikola Tesla, the world’s premier genius.
I cannot fathom how Tesla’s mind worked and probably never will, but my appreciation for Tesla and what he did for modern humanity is unsurpassed. I find him the most fascinating human who ever existed (aside perhaps only Jesus Christ). And the part that hurts the most is that Tesla did so much for us yet was constantly held back because he was way too far ahead of his time. He was purposeful hindered and disregarded by those in power who either didn’t want to see him succeed (Edison) or didn’t see the profit in what he was proposing (Morgan et al).
If those in power had only listened to Tesla and followed him, the world would be even more amazing than it has become because of his inventions. We could have had free, sustainable, environmentally-friendly energy worldwide. We could have had electric cars for over 100 years. We could have had a planet without war. We could have had so much that we can barely imagine. Unfortunately the world was not ready for Tesla in 1900, and sadly it is still not ready for his ideas.
I pray that Tesla’s own prophecy comes to fruition: that the future will be his. To say he was unappreciated during his time is gross understatement. I pray humankind of the future will learn to implement his ideas, though I’m not sure our brightest minds working together today could even understand what Tesla knew well over 100 years ago.
Tesla’s was the most amazing lifetime I have ever heard of. I’m so grateful to the authors for putting this wonderful book together. I want everyone to read it and know better the mind and astounding achievements of Nikola Tesla, the world’s premier genius.
October 21, 2017
This was a fascinating read. The man suffered from OCD, but was able to control his impulses and threw himself into his work as inventor. His "World- System" was ahead of his time. With a photographic memory, he could envision entire technical schematics within his own mind and all he needed was time to make them work. It is a shame he never got that opportunity to fully develop his 'flying machine' or 'World -system'. The internet as we know it today pales in comparison to what he truly envisioned.
November 26, 2011
Beautiful read, with plenty of photos and sidebars on the masterpieces created by the tall, dark and mysterious genius-- many of which have yet to be uncovered or understood to this day.
August 23, 2014
Pretty good account of what made the man tick...
January 12, 2021
Who was Nikola Tesla? You owe him every time you turn on a light or use an electric appliance. You owe him every time you turn on a radio or use a computer. Yet he has been swept into obscurity with others given credit for his work.
This book is filled with photographs of Tesla and his work. He truly was a master of lightning having discovered how to generate it himself. He found how to transmit electric power without wires. He developed the alternating current (AC) for practical use, the motors to use it and transmit it. George Westinghouse used his patents to spread it over the country yet never paid royalties to Tesla leaving him close to penniless.
Tesla developed the basic devices needed for radio. Marconi used his patents, took credit for developing radio himself. The Supreme court finally upheld Tesla's claims, after his death and even the Smithsonian has ignored the finding.
Tesla was an eccentric. He never married.
This book is a bit scholarly with lots of sidebars about Tesla's various patents and work. The main text is mostly easy to follow. It highlights an eccentric genius and his work who should get much more credit and recognition than he does.
This book is filled with photographs of Tesla and his work. He truly was a master of lightning having discovered how to generate it himself. He found how to transmit electric power without wires. He developed the alternating current (AC) for practical use, the motors to use it and transmit it. George Westinghouse used his patents to spread it over the country yet never paid royalties to Tesla leaving him close to penniless.
Tesla developed the basic devices needed for radio. Marconi used his patents, took credit for developing radio himself. The Supreme court finally upheld Tesla's claims, after his death and even the Smithsonian has ignored the finding.
Tesla was an eccentric. He never married.
This book is a bit scholarly with lots of sidebars about Tesla's various patents and work. The main text is mostly easy to follow. It highlights an eccentric genius and his work who should get much more credit and recognition than he does.
December 31, 2022
The shocking truth about
This is an excellent documentary on Nikola Tesla. It runs pretty much chronologically without a lot of back and for in-time annoying sound bites.
Some of the documentaries are the first person with Stacy Keach as the voice of Nikola Tesla. Elisabeth Noone is the narrator.
We learn how his life is intermixed with Mark Twain, William K. Vanderbilt, J.P. Morgan, Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Guglielmo Marconi.
The actual technical side is held down as it is a Nikola Tesla biography, not a technical how-to. On that note, you can tell that this documentary is a tad dated as they have a fascination with the strategic defense initiative.
In any event, it is good to know more about Tesla and his part in history.
This is an excellent documentary on Nikola Tesla. It runs pretty much chronologically without a lot of back and for in-time annoying sound bites.
Some of the documentaries are the first person with Stacy Keach as the voice of Nikola Tesla. Elisabeth Noone is the narrator.
We learn how his life is intermixed with Mark Twain, William K. Vanderbilt, J.P. Morgan, Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Guglielmo Marconi.
The actual technical side is held down as it is a Nikola Tesla biography, not a technical how-to. On that note, you can tell that this documentary is a tad dated as they have a fascination with the strategic defense initiative.
In any event, it is good to know more about Tesla and his part in history.
May 7, 2019
Another of the books from the small stacks of books I've collected in the past year or two in antique shops or used book stores... except this isn't small! Nearly a coffee table sized book, it is arranged much like the Dorling Kindersly books with many many sidebar insets. The narrative is well composed chronologically, and rife with patent illustrations. I knew much already about Tesla, and this taught me more. Fascinating man, with a fascinating legacy. (And bad on Smithsonian for still giving Marconi credit for radio...bad on the Nobel committee as well!) Tragic at times, one wonders if those high frequencies didn't addle a bit! A nice, fairly comprehensive, overview.
December 30, 2019
Again I have seen a smart Man.
March 9, 2021
I’ve been fascinated with Tesla for years. This is a definitive biography but it also has all sorts of diagrams, photographs, and explanations of how his various ideas and inventions worked.
April 19, 2016
This is the fascinating story of the discoverer and developer of alternating electricity, without which we could not have our modern society. He invented and designed alternating (AC) electricity generators and motors and was one of the first to develop radio. Nikola Tesla is one of history's true geniuses, and this excellent, very well illustrated large-format book is a must read for all who like science and who follow the amazing achievements of history's savants -- the highest levels of geniuses and contributors to the progress of our world.
September 6, 2012
Like all things Tesla, I loved it!
August 30, 2020
Loved the photos, but if you’re looking for an in-depth examination of one of humankind’s few geniuses, you’re not going to find it here.
April 29, 2018
"De cabello castaño y ondulado, muy abundante, ojos azules y piel blanca… Cerca de Tesla, el corazón se ensancha de tal modo que es como entrar en un mundo de libertad, más libre que la propia soledad"
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews