Tesla vs Edison: The Life-Long Feud that Electrified the World (Volume 15)

by Nigel Cawthorne

Nikola Tesla today is largely unknown and overlooked among the great scientists of the modern era. While Thomas Edison, the most famous inventor in American history, gets all the glory for discovering the light bulb. But it was his one-time assistant and life-long arch nemesis, Tesla, who made the breakthrough in alternating current electricity. Edison and Tesla carried on a bitter feud for years, but it was Tesla's AC generators that illuminated the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago under artificial light. Today all homes and electrical appliances run on Tesla's AC current. 120 years ago, they were billed as the 'Twin Wizards of Electricity', here Nigel Cawthorne chronicles the life and times of the two great men to help us finally decide just who really is the Electric King- Edison or Tesla? The Oxford People series offers deep dives into the most influential people, subjects, and cultures from history. From horror-fiction legends like H. P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe, to historical heavyweights like Houdini and JFK, to the supernatural world of vampires, werewolves, and ghosts—Oxford People encompasses it all.


Other titles in this series include : Angels, Che, Creating Sherlock Holmes, Edgar Allen Poe, Extreme Science, Gettysburg, Ghosts, Gunfighters, Houdini, HP Lovecraft, John F. Kennedy, Myths and Legends, Privates and Privateers, Roosevelt and Churchill, Royal Weddings, Skies of WWII, Tesla,  Vampires, Vikings, Werewolves, Women of Invention, Zombies.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, History, School, American History

192 pages, Hardcover

First published February 17, 2016

About the author

Nigel Cawthorne is an Anglo-American writer of fiction and non-fiction, and an editor. He has written more than 80 books on a wide range of subjects and has contributed to The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph Daily Mail and The New York Times. He has appeared on television and BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Many of Nigel Cawthorne's books are compilations of popular history, without footnotes, references or bibliographies. His own web site refers to a description of his home as a "book-writing factory" and says, "More than half my books were commissioned by publishers and packagers for a flat fee or for a for a reduced royalty".

One of his most notable works was Taking Back My Name, an autobiography of Ike Turner, with whom he spent a number of weeks working with him on, taking up residence in Turner's house. The book caused much controversy, resulting in court cases for three years following its release.

Cawthorne currently lives in Bloomsbury, London with his girlfriend and son, Colin (born 1982).

Reviews

[Tom Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a gift and I’d say it is a coffee table book for those interested in science and engineering and some of the nineteenth and twentieth century history associated with it. I already read a detailed biography of Tesla, but this book provided some background on Edison I didn’t know. Lots of old photos and drawings are included. It falls short describing some of the details of their many inventions and patents, but that’s a more complex, specialized book, and this is just an overview. It’s fine for that purpose.

[Anup Sinha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is very well-researched with a lot of great pictures and graphics. It goes into much depth about Tesla and Edison, but also the other pioneer scientists of the day.

It was not always readable for me, partly because there was so much information jam-packed and I didn’t grasp all the scientific technicalities. The emphasis was much more on the science and the business than the personal lives though enough was told to get the idea about Tesla’s eccentricities, especially as he aged.

Overall a strong effort by Nigel Cawthorne and a worthy read for those interested in the subjects.

[Sonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me wish I had been around to see one of Teslas lectures. Very informative about the early development of electricity and communications.

[Wilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book already thinking I would like Tesla better than Edison, for a number of reasons. And it turns out, it didn't disappoint! To simplify much more than necessary, Tesla was a visionary, far, far, FAR ahead of his time, who was horrible, absolutely horrible, at protecting his inventions or cashing in on them. Some might argue that he was more interested in giving away those gifts for the good of mankind than getting rich, but that's another discussion. In stark contrast, Edison was driven, if brilliant, plodder. However, he was also a master at cashing in, again, and again, on whatever he touched. As well, Edison was also masterful at finishing the work of others, getting their partial ideas to the finish line, and then absorbing all that loot that almost always followed. The book did a good job not creating any "bad guys" and did an even better job sprinkling in tons of real electrical theory and facts. Hell, I'm an engineer and I learned stuff! All in all, a great book, albeit admittedly an introductory volume about a huge and complex subject. Recommended.

[Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having worked in power generation for 39 years this book was right up my alley. Tesla and Edison both proved the point that the inventive genius is not a good business man. The book is a short quick read.

[Miguel Soto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Más de tres meses en menos de 200 páginas... debo reconocer que cometí el error de irle leyendo "a cachitos" en momentos muy aislados, o tal vez también es que el libro se tardó mucho en atraparme, aunque al final algó me hizo terminarlo y conocer un poco más de la rivalidad entre el genio y el hombre de negocios, el excéntrico y visionario inventor y el habilísimo constructor de compañías.

Gracias a ambos tenemos mucho de lo que hoy en día nos parece lo más ordinario, pero ir conociendo poco a poco los avances de sus trabajos, cómo presentaban sus hallazgos, y sumergirse en el ambiente del cambio de siglo le da otra dimensión a lo supuestamente conocido. Creo que no seré el primero ni el último al que conocer más de cerca el trabajo de Tesla le produzca una honda impresión: quizá no llegue a convertirme en su fan como muchos, pero sí que le extiendo un afectuoso saludo, desde la red global que tan nítidamente imaginó y que finalmente se materializó, aunque tristemente ya no pudo verla.

[Craig Delaune · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful ride through the era of Tesla and Edison. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover. Nigel assumes the reader is intelligent, and guides you through the feud without wasting time on paragraphs bloated with definitions and pedantry. My only gripe is that some sections can read a bit rushed. Other than that, I think this is a great read for anyone who likes history and science. The quotes, pictures, and diagrams are wonderful additions, and dont seem to dumb the book down any. It reads more like an entertaining encyclopedia, and I loved that. It loses one star for the rushed feeling it can give, but overall a great buy.

[Bret Rock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't realize it before I ordered it, but this is more of a coffee table book to me than anything. It's pretty jumpy in terms of dates and there are a lot of sub-sections that break up the main narrative. That said, it's a fascinating book with lots of pics and diagrams. Will still try to find a better book about Tesla.

[Paul Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tesla was a genius and ahead of his time. However he owed a lot to others and was unable to grapple with technical roadblocks which both George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison could overcome through adaptability in three case of Edison or business acumen and intuitive understanding if others works in the case of George westinghouse. Excellent read and research

[Beth Hawks]

Excellent, well-researched information on both men. Is more neutral and unbiased about them than I am. The layout of this book would be hard for anyone with ADHD (and might have given me ADHD), but it has excellent pictures.

[Patrice · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was written/formatted in an interesting style. I feel like I needed a better understanding of how electricity works before reading the book. Lots of technical talk. But I enjoyed learning about the personalities.

[Ginnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot. Really tells how under appreciated Tesla was.

[Love Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wonderful. Will definitely be picking up more books by Nigel Cawthorne.

[Wayne]

easy to read; aimed at high schoolers.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very detailed book about one of the greatest rivals in science and technology.
The pictures and photography are just as detailed.

[Leslea · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of Tesla I devoured this book filled with all new photographs I hadn't yet seen. What a genius Tesla was and so sad he didn't really receive the recognition he deserved. Great to see books like this trying to right the wrongs done him. He was very forward thinking and many things we take for granted today (mobile phones, radar, AC electricity etc...) he was instrumental in inventing. Facinating reading.

[David Meyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This took me longer to read than I expected, as I kept putting it down in favor of other books. It was informative enough, but simply not very interesting. I've read some books about both of these gentlemen and loved the idea of a specific focus on one of histories more interesting professional rivalries, but the writing in this book just didn't keep me captivated.

[Draco Espinal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two great inventors. One good person.