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Nikola Tesla: A Life from Beginning to End
Nikola Tesla * * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * * Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet. Nikola Tesla was a major figure in the world in which he lived. As the nineteenth century gave way to the twentieth, it was Tesla who would contribute to some of the world's most amazing inventions. It was Tesla's theories, patents, and experiments that would pave the way for the digital, wireless world we are so familiar with today. Tesla didn't enjoy the high honors bestowed on so many of his contemporaries, yet he enjoyed the power of knowing that it was his inventions that were powering the world, literally. Inside you will read about... ✓ Early Life ✓ Alternating Current and the Induction Motor ✓ Patents, Radio and X-rays ✓ Wardenclyffe Years ✓ Personal Life ✓ Later Years ✓ 10 Things You Never Knew About Nikola Tesla And much more! This book will take you through the life of Nikola Tesla. From his humble beginnings in Croatia to all he would accomplish as a citizen of the United States, Tesla shows how his imagination fueled his creativity and brought his inventions to life. See Nikola Tesla for what he truly was; an extraordinary visionary who sparked the world.
116 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
1043 people are currently reading
1819 people want to read
About the author
Hourly History
703 books868 followersAt Hourly History, we focus on publishing history books that are concise, straightforward and take no longer than one hour to read.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
February 8, 2020
I want everyone to read and recognize this great person.
March 28, 2022
It was short but enjoyable. From now on, whenever I will use my phone or turn on the lights, I know I will remember Nikola Tesla.
May 16, 2018
I normally do not read biographies, but because I'm a retired electrical engineer and am aware of the many contributions Nikola Tesla made, I was interested in learning more about him. It's amazing to find out even more about those things that we use every day that started with his ideas. He even designed a compact electric motor for a car in the late 1800s -- Elon Musk's Tesla follows this up.
This book reads well, in my opinion, but it's not the kind that keeps you glued to the pages until the end. It's not long (48 pages), so it shouldn't take anyone long to read it. And it's free on Amazon!
This book reads well, in my opinion, but it's not the kind that keeps you glued to the pages until the end. It's not long (48 pages), so it shouldn't take anyone long to read it. And it's free on Amazon!
November 12, 2025
Hard not to know about Tesla if you have your eyes and ears open but I must say I did not know the scale of my ignorance until I read this packed little volume. Interesting, informative and enlightening. Well worth the read.
May 19, 2021
A few statements were completely contradictory leaving me puzzled which was truth.
Otherwise it’s fascinating to know so many things exist because Nikola Tesla closed the gap others could not. It’s so sad he couldn’t see to fruition many of his minds wanderings.
Otherwise it’s fascinating to know so many things exist because Nikola Tesla closed the gap others could not. It’s so sad he couldn’t see to fruition many of his minds wanderings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2022
Informative and Truly Educational
(Hourly History, "Nikola Tesla," Kindle Edition, 2017, locations 134-189)
...Tesla knew that wireless power would transmit large amounts of power all around the globe, and he realized that worldwide communication would be just as feasible. His ideas about wireless technology were certainly attainable in his mind; at the time, there was no real way to see them work...The Tesla coil laid the foundation for the development of wireless technologies and is still used today in radio technology. The next time you pick up your cell phone, remember to thank Nikola Tesla.
First of all, the book starts with a sept'/ sev'en-star entr'/ intr'o-duct'ion:
(Ibid., loc. 26-30)
Tesla relied on his imagination to fuel his life. More successful people come to mind when you think about who invented electricity or the radio. This could be because opportunities didn't always present themselves at opportune times to Nikola Tesla. Whatever you know, or think you know, let's have a look at this marvel of a man whom some called brilliant, others called a “mad scientist,” and everyone came to acknowledge as extremely necessary to life as we know it in the 21st century.
This read is like a “connecting bridge” between missing dots of the two brief books (This one and Sean Patrick's I've recently read and reviewed). Since I found a high value in that book, this book also deserves the same value as it really does:
(Ibid., loc. 60-70)
In 1880, two of Tesla's uncles saved up enough money for him to leave for Prague and study at Charles-Ferdinand University. He arrived there too late to enroll; he didn't know Greek, which was a required subject; and he couldn't write in Czech. He did attend some classes, which he attended as an auditor, which meant he did not receive grades for them. In 1881 Tesla moved to Budapest, Hungary. There he worked for the Budapest Telephone Exchange. While walking through a park one day with a friend, Tesla had a vision, and he quickly drew a diagram in the dirt to demonstrate for his friend a motor using the principle of rotating magnetic fields created by two or more alternating currents. There were no motors run on alternating current at the time, and there wouldn't be until Tesla came up with the idea of the induction motor several years later. While in Budapest, Tesla developed a sketch for a rotating magnetic field – an idea which is still today used in many electromechanical devices. This would be the foundation from which many of his future inventions would spring. In 1882, Tesla moved to France and continued making improvements to electrical equipment, but no one showed any particular interest in his ideas. In June 1884 Tesla immigrated to New York City with only four cents in his pocket. Immediately Tesla was hired by Thomas Edison to work at his Edison Machine Works on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
(Ibid., loc. 215-242)
In 1899, the American businessman John Jacob Astor IV invested $100,000 so that Tesla could further develop and create a new lighting system. Astor would lose his life aboard the ocean liner Titanic in 1912. Tesla used the money to further his experiments at his Colorado Springs lab...With the backing of Thomas Edison and Andrew Carnegie, Marconi would continue making great advances in radio technology. However, it had been Nikola Tesla who, in 1897, had applied for two patents, US645576 and US649621, for radio technology. It was thought that the courts sided with Marconi because of two extremely famous and wealthy backers. The U.S. Government would avoid paying Tesla any royalties as well. The heart of radio transmission is based on four tuned circuits, which are used for transmitting radio waves and receiving them. This is Tesla's original concept, not Marconi's. In 1893, at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Tesla had demonstrated this concept during a lecture there. Tesla's four circuits are still what is used today in all television and radio equipment.
Interesting. The book is definitely en-/ in-form’at-ive despite its short length.
(Ibid., loc. 49-60)
In 1875 Tesla enrolled in Austrian Polytechnic in Graz, Austria, on a scholarship. During his first year there, he never missed a class, passed nine exams (twice as many as were required), and he quickly became one of the star students. In his second year, Tesla found himself at odds with one of his professors over perceived design flaws in the direct-current (DC) motors that were being demonstrated in class...Tesla did not graduate from the university, and he received no grades for his third year. By 1878, Tesla left the university and cut all ties with his family. He did not want them to know he had dropped out of school. He worked as a draftsman in Slovenia for a while and continued gambling. At this time, Tesla's father Milutin came to him, begging him to come home. Tesla refused, suffering a nervous breakdown. The following year, 1879, Tesla's father died from an unknown illness. Some say he suffered a stroke. Tesla returned to his high school, the Real Gymnasium, where he taught a large class of students.
A great message to the readers: “Don't give up!”
(Ibid., loc. 105-106)
Westinghouse did have his own induction motor ready to go, but he concluded that Tesla's would probably be vastly popular over his own...
Smart he truly was. Only if the Pager (Beeper) along with the City Phone developers could see the same in the Cellular Phone back in the 1990s...maybe a different example because the cell-phone developer might have been richer than the others...just thinkin'.
(Ibid., loc. 108-110)
Westinghouse also hired Tesla to be a consultant for the Westinghouse Company for $2,000 per month. While working for Westinghouse, Tesla moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he worked on developing alternating current to power the city's streetcars.
From being broke to being wealthy, lol. It wasn't luck falling from the air, but years of hard work, confidence and gut in Tesla's earlier years all piled up.
A great "Human" moment:
(Ibid., loc. 127-132)
Despite all this notoriety, the Westinghouse Company would have been in dire financial straits if George Westinghouse hadn't begged Tesla to forego the royalties they had once agreed upon. Tesla, who was very grateful to the man who had believed in him and his inventions, tore up the royalty contract. In doing so, Tesla walked away from becoming one of the wealthiest men of the Gilded Age. He could have become a multi-millionaire, the likes of John D. Rockefeller, John Jacob Astor, J.P. Morgan, and Andrew Carnegie. He walked away from millions in royalties that were due him and billions more that would have come his way over time.
(Ibid., loc. 183-185)
One of the most intriguing of all of Tesla's experiments was with wireless technology that he started working on in the 1890s. He was fascinated with the idea that electrical power could be transmitted without the use of wires, many decades before it actually became popular in culture.
What was going on in Far East at this time? This difference has been the difference of mind'/ ment'ality (worldview) between the people'/ popul'ace/ popul'ation in the West and the East in general.
(Ibid., loc. 246-251)
Wardenclyffe was sold for $20,000 and in 1917 was torn down to make way for more valuable real estate. This defeat, which Tesla claimed to be his worst, led to another of his breakdowns. He knew his experiments cost money to finance, and he couldn't understand why those with money wouldn't back him up. He couldn't understand “a faint-hearted, doubting world!” So, what was Tesla to do now? He believed the one area he could successfully navigate would be that of the consultant; so that's what he did. However, his ideas would prove too outlandish, and his eccentricities were beginning to take over his life.
(Sean Patrick, "Nikola Tesla," Kindle Edition, 2013, p. 16)
...In every field of human endeavor, the more visionary the work, the less likely it is to be quickly understood and embraced by lesser minds. For one reason or another, many people just “don’t get it...”
(Hourly History, "Nikola Tesla," Kindle Edition, 2017, locations 91-94)
This dynamo machine helped reduce sparking, which was very common in electrical commutators of the day. Tesla had many ideas for new motors and electric transmission equipment, but his investors were not interested. In time, Tesla was left with no more money for his electric company. He also lost control of the patents he had created. In the winter of 1886/1887, Tesla was digging ditches for $2/day to make money...
Not that Tesla was an'y idiot, but because they were not as smart as Tesla was to understand and see the value in his ideas at the time.
(Ibid., loc. 269-275)
...In his early years, Tesla believed women to be superior to men. That started to change when he began witnessing the many areas that women were starting to involve themselves in as the nineteenth century gave way to the twentieth. Tesla believed women were trying to compete with men and in so doing, were losing all of their feminine ways. In an interview with the Galveston Daily News in August 1924, Tesla is quoted as saying “In place of the soft-voiced, gentle woman of my reverent worship, has come the woman who thinks that her chief success in life lies in making herself as much as possible like man – in dress, voice and actions, in sports and achievements of every kind . . . The tendency of woman to push aside man, supplanting the old spirit of cooperation with him in all the affairs of life, is very disappointing to me.”
Because we believe that it denies our “nature.”
(Ibid., loc. 275-277)
Tesla always believed all the stimulation in life he needed was to be found in his workshops and laboratories. He avoided social situations, preferring to remain asocial. He loved secluding himself in his work. Those who did know him, though, always spoke highly of him, as one who was very sincere and sweet.
Because his genius was to be criticized by the people'/ publ'ic. By avoiding the soc’iety his gen’ius would be less affected by all the criticism and judgments from those lesser minded. A genius or not, he was after all a person with e-mot'ion like all others.
(Ibid., loc. 31-32)
“The present is theirs; the future for which I really worked, is mine.” —Nikola Tesla
The man was wrong about one thing: The future he worked so hard would be theirs too. The future, our present, has been built upon his belief, dedication and sacrifice.
Wow, BOOM:
(Ibid., loc. 80-82)
“If Edison had a needle to find in a haystack, he would proceed at once with the diligence of the bee to examine straw after straw until he found the object of his search. I was a sorry witness of such doing that a little theory and calculation would have saved him ninety percent of his labor.” —Nikola Tesla
But, Tesla must have meant all the "labors of Edison's employees like himself."
The book is "complete." Here's the on[e]-ly error I have found in it:
(Ibid., loc. 94-95)
...Late in 1886. Tesla went to work for the Western Union Company...
It's a typo: Not a period, but a “comma” must be here, yet it doesn't bother the read.
The book also ends with a great con-clos’/ -clus’ion.
I end this re-vie’w with an insightful truth found in this book:
(Ibid., loc. 137-138)
“Many people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75.” —Benjamin Franklin
(Hourly History, "Nikola Tesla," Kindle Edition, 2017, locations 134-189)
...Tesla knew that wireless power would transmit large amounts of power all around the globe, and he realized that worldwide communication would be just as feasible. His ideas about wireless technology were certainly attainable in his mind; at the time, there was no real way to see them work...The Tesla coil laid the foundation for the development of wireless technologies and is still used today in radio technology. The next time you pick up your cell phone, remember to thank Nikola Tesla.
First of all, the book starts with a sept'/ sev'en-star entr'/ intr'o-duct'ion:
(Ibid., loc. 26-30)
Tesla relied on his imagination to fuel his life. More successful people come to mind when you think about who invented electricity or the radio. This could be because opportunities didn't always present themselves at opportune times to Nikola Tesla. Whatever you know, or think you know, let's have a look at this marvel of a man whom some called brilliant, others called a “mad scientist,” and everyone came to acknowledge as extremely necessary to life as we know it in the 21st century.
This read is like a “connecting bridge” between missing dots of the two brief books (This one and Sean Patrick's I've recently read and reviewed). Since I found a high value in that book, this book also deserves the same value as it really does:
(Ibid., loc. 60-70)
In 1880, two of Tesla's uncles saved up enough money for him to leave for Prague and study at Charles-Ferdinand University. He arrived there too late to enroll; he didn't know Greek, which was a required subject; and he couldn't write in Czech. He did attend some classes, which he attended as an auditor, which meant he did not receive grades for them. In 1881 Tesla moved to Budapest, Hungary. There he worked for the Budapest Telephone Exchange. While walking through a park one day with a friend, Tesla had a vision, and he quickly drew a diagram in the dirt to demonstrate for his friend a motor using the principle of rotating magnetic fields created by two or more alternating currents. There were no motors run on alternating current at the time, and there wouldn't be until Tesla came up with the idea of the induction motor several years later. While in Budapest, Tesla developed a sketch for a rotating magnetic field – an idea which is still today used in many electromechanical devices. This would be the foundation from which many of his future inventions would spring. In 1882, Tesla moved to France and continued making improvements to electrical equipment, but no one showed any particular interest in his ideas. In June 1884 Tesla immigrated to New York City with only four cents in his pocket. Immediately Tesla was hired by Thomas Edison to work at his Edison Machine Works on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
(Ibid., loc. 215-242)
In 1899, the American businessman John Jacob Astor IV invested $100,000 so that Tesla could further develop and create a new lighting system. Astor would lose his life aboard the ocean liner Titanic in 1912. Tesla used the money to further his experiments at his Colorado Springs lab...With the backing of Thomas Edison and Andrew Carnegie, Marconi would continue making great advances in radio technology. However, it had been Nikola Tesla who, in 1897, had applied for two patents, US645576 and US649621, for radio technology. It was thought that the courts sided with Marconi because of two extremely famous and wealthy backers. The U.S. Government would avoid paying Tesla any royalties as well. The heart of radio transmission is based on four tuned circuits, which are used for transmitting radio waves and receiving them. This is Tesla's original concept, not Marconi's. In 1893, at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Tesla had demonstrated this concept during a lecture there. Tesla's four circuits are still what is used today in all television and radio equipment.
Interesting. The book is definitely en-/ in-form’at-ive despite its short length.
(Ibid., loc. 49-60)
In 1875 Tesla enrolled in Austrian Polytechnic in Graz, Austria, on a scholarship. During his first year there, he never missed a class, passed nine exams (twice as many as were required), and he quickly became one of the star students. In his second year, Tesla found himself at odds with one of his professors over perceived design flaws in the direct-current (DC) motors that were being demonstrated in class...Tesla did not graduate from the university, and he received no grades for his third year. By 1878, Tesla left the university and cut all ties with his family. He did not want them to know he had dropped out of school. He worked as a draftsman in Slovenia for a while and continued gambling. At this time, Tesla's father Milutin came to him, begging him to come home. Tesla refused, suffering a nervous breakdown. The following year, 1879, Tesla's father died from an unknown illness. Some say he suffered a stroke. Tesla returned to his high school, the Real Gymnasium, where he taught a large class of students.
A great message to the readers: “Don't give up!”
(Ibid., loc. 105-106)
Westinghouse did have his own induction motor ready to go, but he concluded that Tesla's would probably be vastly popular over his own...
Smart he truly was. Only if the Pager (Beeper) along with the City Phone developers could see the same in the Cellular Phone back in the 1990s...maybe a different example because the cell-phone developer might have been richer than the others...just thinkin'.
(Ibid., loc. 108-110)
Westinghouse also hired Tesla to be a consultant for the Westinghouse Company for $2,000 per month. While working for Westinghouse, Tesla moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he worked on developing alternating current to power the city's streetcars.
From being broke to being wealthy, lol. It wasn't luck falling from the air, but years of hard work, confidence and gut in Tesla's earlier years all piled up.
A great "Human" moment:
(Ibid., loc. 127-132)
Despite all this notoriety, the Westinghouse Company would have been in dire financial straits if George Westinghouse hadn't begged Tesla to forego the royalties they had once agreed upon. Tesla, who was very grateful to the man who had believed in him and his inventions, tore up the royalty contract. In doing so, Tesla walked away from becoming one of the wealthiest men of the Gilded Age. He could have become a multi-millionaire, the likes of John D. Rockefeller, John Jacob Astor, J.P. Morgan, and Andrew Carnegie. He walked away from millions in royalties that were due him and billions more that would have come his way over time.
(Ibid., loc. 183-185)
One of the most intriguing of all of Tesla's experiments was with wireless technology that he started working on in the 1890s. He was fascinated with the idea that electrical power could be transmitted without the use of wires, many decades before it actually became popular in culture.
What was going on in Far East at this time? This difference has been the difference of mind'/ ment'ality (worldview) between the people'/ popul'ace/ popul'ation in the West and the East in general.
(Ibid., loc. 246-251)
Wardenclyffe was sold for $20,000 and in 1917 was torn down to make way for more valuable real estate. This defeat, which Tesla claimed to be his worst, led to another of his breakdowns. He knew his experiments cost money to finance, and he couldn't understand why those with money wouldn't back him up. He couldn't understand “a faint-hearted, doubting world!” So, what was Tesla to do now? He believed the one area he could successfully navigate would be that of the consultant; so that's what he did. However, his ideas would prove too outlandish, and his eccentricities were beginning to take over his life.
(Sean Patrick, "Nikola Tesla," Kindle Edition, 2013, p. 16)
...In every field of human endeavor, the more visionary the work, the less likely it is to be quickly understood and embraced by lesser minds. For one reason or another, many people just “don’t get it...”
(Hourly History, "Nikola Tesla," Kindle Edition, 2017, locations 91-94)
This dynamo machine helped reduce sparking, which was very common in electrical commutators of the day. Tesla had many ideas for new motors and electric transmission equipment, but his investors were not interested. In time, Tesla was left with no more money for his electric company. He also lost control of the patents he had created. In the winter of 1886/1887, Tesla was digging ditches for $2/day to make money...
Not that Tesla was an'y idiot, but because they were not as smart as Tesla was to understand and see the value in his ideas at the time.
(Ibid., loc. 269-275)
...In his early years, Tesla believed women to be superior to men. That started to change when he began witnessing the many areas that women were starting to involve themselves in as the nineteenth century gave way to the twentieth. Tesla believed women were trying to compete with men and in so doing, were losing all of their feminine ways. In an interview with the Galveston Daily News in August 1924, Tesla is quoted as saying “In place of the soft-voiced, gentle woman of my reverent worship, has come the woman who thinks that her chief success in life lies in making herself as much as possible like man – in dress, voice and actions, in sports and achievements of every kind . . . The tendency of woman to push aside man, supplanting the old spirit of cooperation with him in all the affairs of life, is very disappointing to me.”
Because we believe that it denies our “nature.”
(Ibid., loc. 275-277)
Tesla always believed all the stimulation in life he needed was to be found in his workshops and laboratories. He avoided social situations, preferring to remain asocial. He loved secluding himself in his work. Those who did know him, though, always spoke highly of him, as one who was very sincere and sweet.
Because his genius was to be criticized by the people'/ publ'ic. By avoiding the soc’iety his gen’ius would be less affected by all the criticism and judgments from those lesser minded. A genius or not, he was after all a person with e-mot'ion like all others.
(Ibid., loc. 31-32)
“The present is theirs; the future for which I really worked, is mine.” —Nikola Tesla
The man was wrong about one thing: The future he worked so hard would be theirs too. The future, our present, has been built upon his belief, dedication and sacrifice.
Wow, BOOM:
(Ibid., loc. 80-82)
“If Edison had a needle to find in a haystack, he would proceed at once with the diligence of the bee to examine straw after straw until he found the object of his search. I was a sorry witness of such doing that a little theory and calculation would have saved him ninety percent of his labor.” —Nikola Tesla
But, Tesla must have meant all the "labors of Edison's employees like himself."
The book is "complete." Here's the on[e]-ly error I have found in it:
(Ibid., loc. 94-95)
...Late in 1886. Tesla went to work for the Western Union Company...
It's a typo: Not a period, but a “comma” must be here, yet it doesn't bother the read.
The book also ends with a great con-clos’/ -clus’ion.
I end this re-vie’w with an insightful truth found in this book:
(Ibid., loc. 137-138)
“Many people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75.” —Benjamin Franklin
June 19, 2021
Too short
October 27, 2017
This is one of the "hourly history" books that seem to be appearing from Amazon at the rate of two a week.
They are short informative reads on various subjects and I have read a couple - some are OK for the length and the related subject but these are works with no human listed author and with the volume now I am wondering how they do it.
I had no idea really who Tesla was and this was a good and easy opportunity to find out somethings.
It was generally informative but lots of editorializing. Ok with a known author of the caliber of a Walter Issacson or a Michael Korda but editorializing from an unknown and nameless entity is of little interest.
Also with the volume of these "books" coming out I am curious if they are written or copied from a questionable source such as Wikipedia.
Amazon prime customers like me (I think this is the category that gets access) get the chance to buy two "free" books weekly.
Anyway I know more about Tesla and will conjure on it but not make bets. - This was the most editorialized of any of the very few of these I have read.
They are short informative reads on various subjects and I have read a couple - some are OK for the length and the related subject but these are works with no human listed author and with the volume now I am wondering how they do it.
I had no idea really who Tesla was and this was a good and easy opportunity to find out somethings.
It was generally informative but lots of editorializing. Ok with a known author of the caliber of a Walter Issacson or a Michael Korda but editorializing from an unknown and nameless entity is of little interest.
Also with the volume of these "books" coming out I am curious if they are written or copied from a questionable source such as Wikipedia.
Amazon prime customers like me (I think this is the category that gets access) get the chance to buy two "free" books weekly.
Anyway I know more about Tesla and will conjure on it but not make bets. - This was the most editorialized of any of the very few of these I have read.
July 15, 2020
Nikola Tesla: A Life From Beginning to End by Hourly History is a short yet amazing depiction of Nikola Tesla's life.
I've always been fascinated by Nikola Tesla, yes because of all the inventions that helped the human kind take giant leaps, but mostly because of the death ray. He truly was a genius.
The book depicts his success, conflicts, and tragedies, and brings forth his history and entire life story in a mere 41 pages.
I've always been fascinated by Nikola Tesla, yes because of all the inventions that helped the human kind take giant leaps, but mostly because of the death ray. He truly was a genius.
The book depicts his success, conflicts, and tragedies, and brings forth his history and entire life story in a mere 41 pages.
December 6, 2020
A book on a man who has been one of the most celebrated scientists of this world, and who got numerous designation while living as well as after death. It is said that he had a photogenic kind of memory and he slept really less due to which he had ample time for his invention. This book is a collection of chapters which covers almost all the detail about the scientist and anyone who is interested in knowing about Nikola, he can refer to this book.
October 12, 2022
I have been a massive fan of Tesla from before it was cool, back when I was 12 I read a 400 page biography and I was a massive fan.
Very disciplined, kept single so it wouldn't slow his time to invent.
This 1 hour biographies looks great esp as on Kindle Unlimited.
I read via Kindle Paperwhite (Kindle Unlimited) and also used Word runner on Kindle app 650wpm.
Very disciplined, kept single so it wouldn't slow his time to invent.
This 1 hour biographies looks great esp as on Kindle Unlimited.
I read via Kindle Paperwhite (Kindle Unlimited) and also used Word runner on Kindle app 650wpm.
June 7, 2021
Tesla lived through the difficulties of his life to make all of our lives less difficult - at least when it comes to holding the whole world in our hands
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2024
I managed to read this poorly written mess. But my god was it a struggle.
Part of the hourly histories collection of books of biographies of notable people - I expected good things. However, this was so poorly written, it was hard to read. The narrative jumped around Tesla's life making it exceedingly hard to understand when certain concepts were invented and where he was geographically.
Included were contradictory statements which made reading extremely difficult.
Overall, a great concept but very very poorly executed.
Part of the hourly histories collection of books of biographies of notable people - I expected good things. However, this was so poorly written, it was hard to read. The narrative jumped around Tesla's life making it exceedingly hard to understand when certain concepts were invented and where he was geographically.
Included were contradictory statements which made reading extremely difficult.
Overall, a great concept but very very poorly executed.
May 1, 2024
“𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑡𝑜 𝐸𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑝𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝐼 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑.”
—𝑁𝑖𝑘𝑜𝑙𝑎 𝑇𝑒𝑠𝑙𝑎
He was a true genius, but what terrible luck he had.
—𝑁𝑖𝑘𝑜𝑙𝑎 𝑇𝑒𝑠𝑙𝑎
He was a true genius, but what terrible luck he had.
June 20, 2021
A concise book on Nikola Tesla. You don't have to be a physics to read it. A short and Inspirational book.
June 8, 2022
A short, but interesting introduction to Tesla, a remarkable man
September 11, 2020
We as a humanity owe Tesla so much. Electricity to smartphones, 700+ of his inventions are still in use. Thank you author for bringing this biography to us.
July 2, 2021
The key to the word "Genius" lies in "Imagination"
Conclusions:
Nikola Tesla is a great Scientist, Environmentalist, Eugenics et cetera. Many of us might know him as a protagonist while considering Edison as his antagonist. The author has taken a sincere effort in enlightening the life of tesla through this book. Moreover, the advantage is that this book consists of only 52 or so pages, one can finish them up in an hour, so it doesn't take up much of your valuable time. If you wanna know about tesla, and you don't know where to start, then this is the right place... I guarantee you, You don't have to worry about understanding any physical concepts, without any physics background, one can easily understand this book as it primarily highlights the life of tesla not his work in depth!! For science fiction writers, there's something about "death ray" in this book!
Conclusions:
Go and buy this book / if you have a membership that offers you to borrow this book, grab a coffee, go to your room and start exploring the life of Nikola Tesla
December 2, 2024
Overview
'Nikola Tesla: A Life From Beginning To End' offers a concise yet captivating exploration of the life and legacy of one of history's most brilliant inventors, Nikola Tesla. The book chronicles Tesla's journey from his modest upbringing in Croatia to his monumental achievements as an inventor and visionary in the United States. It sheds light on Tesla's groundbreaking contributions to the development of alternating current (AC) systems and induction motors, which laid the foundation for the modern digital and wireless world we live in today. Despite not receiving the same level of recognition as some of his contemporaries during his lifetime, Tesla's work has had a profound and lasting impact on technology and science.
The narrative delves into Tesla's various patents, his experiments with radio and X-rays, and his ambitious but ultimately unfinished project at Wardenclyffe. It also touches upon his personal life, which was marked by his unique personality and eccentricities, and his later years, which saw both triumphs and challenges. The book aims to paint a picture of Tesla not just as an inventor, but as an extraordinary visionary whose imagination and creativity sparked a revolution in the way we harness and utilize energy. Through this journey, readers gain insight into the mind of a genius who, despite facing numerous obstacles, remained dedicated to his quest for innovation and discovery.
Synopsis
Nikola Tesla's genius is attributed to his extraordinary intellectual abilities and visionary ideas that were far ahead of his time. He possessed a photographic memory, spoke eight languages, and had an estimated IQ of over 160. His relentless pursuit of knowledge and innovation, coupled with his ability to think in abstract terms and his dedication to improving the world through technology, cemented his status as a genius whose work transcended the boundaries of his era and continues to influence our lives today.
The various chapters of the book follow Tesla's life from the beginning to the end:
* Introduction The introduction sets the stage for Nikola Tesla's story, highlighting his significant contributions to the world's technological advancements and establishing him as a pivotal figure in the transition from the 19th to the 20th century.
* Early Life This section delves into Tesla's formative years in Croatia, detailing his upbringing, education, and the early signs of his genius that would later revolutionize the world of science and technology.
* Alternating Current and the Induction Motor Here, the book explores Tesla's development of the alternating current (AC) electrical system and the induction motor, which became fundamental components of modern electrical infrastructure.
* Patents, Radio and X-rays Colorado Springs Wardenclyffe Years This part covers Tesla's prolific period of innovation, including his work on patents, radio waves, and X-rays, as well as his ambitious projects in Colorado Springs and the Wardenclyffe Tower.
* Personal Life The section on Tesla's personal life provides insight into his character, habits, and the unique quirks that set him apart from his contemporaries.
* Later Years This segment reflects on Tesla's life after the peak of his career, discussing the challenges he faced and the recognition he received during his final years.
* Death The book recounts the circumstances of Tesla's passing, marking the end of an era and the legacy he left behind.
* Tesla's Beliefs In this section, Tesla's philosophies and views on science, invention, and the world are examined, giving readers a deeper understanding of his visionary mind.
* 10 Things You Never Knew About Nikola Tesla This part reveals lesser-known facts about Tesla, offering intriguing tidbits that paint a fuller picture of the inventor.
* Conclusion The conclusion summarizes Tesla's life journey, emphasizing the lasting impact of his work and the inspiration he continues to provide to future generations of inventors and dreamers.
Why you should read it?
"Nikola Tesla: A Life From Beginning To End" is an excellent choice for readers who want to delve into the life of one of history's most enigmatic inventors without committing to a lengthy tome. The book's concise format makes it accessible and engaging, allowing readers to absorb the essence of Tesla's story in a short amount of time. Its straightforward narrative and factual approach ensure that the information is easy to follow, making it suitable for both those familiar with Tesla's work and newcomers to his story.
The book's brevity does not compromise on content; it packs a wealth of information into its pages, providing a comprehensive overview of Tesla's life and achievements. It's an ideal read for busy individuals who appreciate well-researched, factual storytelling. By focusing on the key events and innovations that defined Tesla's career, the book offers a clear and informative perspective on why Tesla's genius continues to be celebrated and studied today. Whether you're a history buff, a technology enthusiast, or simply curious about the man behind the alternating current, this book is a valuable and enjoyable resource.
Critics and review
The book has garnered positive feedback for its succinct and informative portrayal of the life of Nikola Tesla. Critics have appreciated the book's ability to condense the inventor's complex story into an easily digestible format, making it accessible to a wide audience. The book's focus on Tesla's major contributions and personal anecdotes has been noted as particularly engaging, providing a well-rounded view of his character and his groundbreaking work. The narrative's clear and factual style has been praised for bringing Tesla's story to life without overwhelming the reader with technical jargon or unnecessary details.
On Amazon, the book holds a strong rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, reflecting the satisfaction of readers with its content and presentation. Goodreads users have also rated the book favorably, with a score of 4.19 out of 5 stars, indicating that it resonates well with a community of book enthusiasts. These ratings on prominent platforms underscore the book's success in capturing the essence of Tesla's life and legacy in a concise and engaging manner.
Verdict
The book's straightforward narrative and focus on key events allow readers to appreciate Tesla's contributions to science and technology without getting bogged down by excessive detail.
About the authors
The book was authored by "Hourly History", which is a collective of authors who have chosen to remain anonymous, focusing instead on the content and educational value of their work rather than individual recognition. The objective of Hourly History is to provide concise, straightforward history books that can be read in about an hour, making history accessible and enjoyable for readers with busy schedules. Their mission is to offer quick yet comprehensive overviews of significant historical events and figures, allowing readers to gain knowledge without the commitment required by more extensive volumes.
The range of books published by Hourly History is vast, covering various topics from ancient civilizations to modern history. They include biographies of notable figures as well as overviews of significant events and periods such as "The Renaissance," "The Black Death," and "The Iron Age."
Read my bi-weekly book reviews on https://booksilike.eu
'Nikola Tesla: A Life From Beginning To End' offers a concise yet captivating exploration of the life and legacy of one of history's most brilliant inventors, Nikola Tesla. The book chronicles Tesla's journey from his modest upbringing in Croatia to his monumental achievements as an inventor and visionary in the United States. It sheds light on Tesla's groundbreaking contributions to the development of alternating current (AC) systems and induction motors, which laid the foundation for the modern digital and wireless world we live in today. Despite not receiving the same level of recognition as some of his contemporaries during his lifetime, Tesla's work has had a profound and lasting impact on technology and science.
The narrative delves into Tesla's various patents, his experiments with radio and X-rays, and his ambitious but ultimately unfinished project at Wardenclyffe. It also touches upon his personal life, which was marked by his unique personality and eccentricities, and his later years, which saw both triumphs and challenges. The book aims to paint a picture of Tesla not just as an inventor, but as an extraordinary visionary whose imagination and creativity sparked a revolution in the way we harness and utilize energy. Through this journey, readers gain insight into the mind of a genius who, despite facing numerous obstacles, remained dedicated to his quest for innovation and discovery.
Synopsis
Nikola Tesla's genius is attributed to his extraordinary intellectual abilities and visionary ideas that were far ahead of his time. He possessed a photographic memory, spoke eight languages, and had an estimated IQ of over 160. His relentless pursuit of knowledge and innovation, coupled with his ability to think in abstract terms and his dedication to improving the world through technology, cemented his status as a genius whose work transcended the boundaries of his era and continues to influence our lives today.
The various chapters of the book follow Tesla's life from the beginning to the end:
* Introduction The introduction sets the stage for Nikola Tesla's story, highlighting his significant contributions to the world's technological advancements and establishing him as a pivotal figure in the transition from the 19th to the 20th century.
* Early Life This section delves into Tesla's formative years in Croatia, detailing his upbringing, education, and the early signs of his genius that would later revolutionize the world of science and technology.
* Alternating Current and the Induction Motor Here, the book explores Tesla's development of the alternating current (AC) electrical system and the induction motor, which became fundamental components of modern electrical infrastructure.
* Patents, Radio and X-rays Colorado Springs Wardenclyffe Years This part covers Tesla's prolific period of innovation, including his work on patents, radio waves, and X-rays, as well as his ambitious projects in Colorado Springs and the Wardenclyffe Tower.
* Personal Life The section on Tesla's personal life provides insight into his character, habits, and the unique quirks that set him apart from his contemporaries.
* Later Years This segment reflects on Tesla's life after the peak of his career, discussing the challenges he faced and the recognition he received during his final years.
* Death The book recounts the circumstances of Tesla's passing, marking the end of an era and the legacy he left behind.
* Tesla's Beliefs In this section, Tesla's philosophies and views on science, invention, and the world are examined, giving readers a deeper understanding of his visionary mind.
* 10 Things You Never Knew About Nikola Tesla This part reveals lesser-known facts about Tesla, offering intriguing tidbits that paint a fuller picture of the inventor.
* Conclusion The conclusion summarizes Tesla's life journey, emphasizing the lasting impact of his work and the inspiration he continues to provide to future generations of inventors and dreamers.
Why you should read it?
"Nikola Tesla: A Life From Beginning To End" is an excellent choice for readers who want to delve into the life of one of history's most enigmatic inventors without committing to a lengthy tome. The book's concise format makes it accessible and engaging, allowing readers to absorb the essence of Tesla's story in a short amount of time. Its straightforward narrative and factual approach ensure that the information is easy to follow, making it suitable for both those familiar with Tesla's work and newcomers to his story.
The book's brevity does not compromise on content; it packs a wealth of information into its pages, providing a comprehensive overview of Tesla's life and achievements. It's an ideal read for busy individuals who appreciate well-researched, factual storytelling. By focusing on the key events and innovations that defined Tesla's career, the book offers a clear and informative perspective on why Tesla's genius continues to be celebrated and studied today. Whether you're a history buff, a technology enthusiast, or simply curious about the man behind the alternating current, this book is a valuable and enjoyable resource.
Critics and review
The book has garnered positive feedback for its succinct and informative portrayal of the life of Nikola Tesla. Critics have appreciated the book's ability to condense the inventor's complex story into an easily digestible format, making it accessible to a wide audience. The book's focus on Tesla's major contributions and personal anecdotes has been noted as particularly engaging, providing a well-rounded view of his character and his groundbreaking work. The narrative's clear and factual style has been praised for bringing Tesla's story to life without overwhelming the reader with technical jargon or unnecessary details.
On Amazon, the book holds a strong rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, reflecting the satisfaction of readers with its content and presentation. Goodreads users have also rated the book favorably, with a score of 4.19 out of 5 stars, indicating that it resonates well with a community of book enthusiasts. These ratings on prominent platforms underscore the book's success in capturing the essence of Tesla's life and legacy in a concise and engaging manner.
Verdict
The book's straightforward narrative and focus on key events allow readers to appreciate Tesla's contributions to science and technology without getting bogged down by excessive detail.
About the authors
The book was authored by "Hourly History", which is a collective of authors who have chosen to remain anonymous, focusing instead on the content and educational value of their work rather than individual recognition. The objective of Hourly History is to provide concise, straightforward history books that can be read in about an hour, making history accessible and enjoyable for readers with busy schedules. Their mission is to offer quick yet comprehensive overviews of significant historical events and figures, allowing readers to gain knowledge without the commitment required by more extensive volumes.
The range of books published by Hourly History is vast, covering various topics from ancient civilizations to modern history. They include biographies of notable figures as well as overviews of significant events and periods such as "The Renaissance," "The Black Death," and "The Iron Age."
Read my bi-weekly book reviews on https://booksilike.eu
January 13, 2020
This is the third Hourly History I have read and while the first two were informative and interesting this one was a bit of a disappointment. I did learn the major events of Tesla's life and followed more or less the timeline of that life, but I found that significant background to some of Tesla's discoveries to be missing. For example the author states that Tesla promoted alternating current and at one point in the book that Tesla invented it. It's true that he promoted AC with his inventions but it was discovered at least two decades before Tesla was born. But more than that I was hoping for a summary of electrical current, it's forms and uses and application in the world to give background to the state of the scientific and industrial world when Tesla was making his discoveries and inventions. That would have given the reader of this book a clearer picture of what Tesla was doing and how it would fit in. Such a background could have been summarized in 2 pages.
Also, while the book progressed mostly along the timeline of Tesla's life, there were occasional jumps back and forward that made it a bit confusing.
So while I did learn about Tesla, his dreams and accomplishments, I found that the literary omissions significantly detracted from my reading experience.
Also, while the book progressed mostly along the timeline of Tesla's life, there were occasional jumps back and forward that made it a bit confusing.
So while I did learn about Tesla, his dreams and accomplishments, I found that the literary omissions significantly detracted from my reading experience.
December 27, 2017
The writing honestly wasn’t that great, and was a bit helter-skelter, but I enjoyed the quick overview of his life. Well worth the short read.
October 1, 2017
Nikola Tesla is quite the cult figure, especially after the 90s with a lot of inventions being attributed to his vision and experiments including wireless communication. However, he is also the scientist who became rather obscure after his death in the 1940s and even during his life; he was often described as the mad scientist. Best known for designing the modern alternating current (AC) supply system, this is a short biography of the scientist by Hourly History.
The book starts with his birth in modern day Croatia, how he was very sharp in studies but eventually dropping out of college because of his gambling addiction. It goes to describe his working life with telephones at Budapest and job as a teaching assistant in Prague before finally moving on to the United States. He initially worked for Edison and later, with his game changing invention of a working alternating current (AC) system for Westinghouse, became Edison’s direct competitor. It talks about his legal disputes with Marconi over the invention of radio. Tesla was debt-ridden and the book eventually ends with his death in absolute penury and moving into obscurity.
The book brought out the fact that Tesla was a visionary very well; that he imagined things and he worked to create them, even things which were unimaginable in his time such as wireless technology or alternating current. It also brought out how Tesla didn’t care for money so long as he was given his space to conduct experiments and invent things, such as how he tore up the royalty agreement with Westinghouse when the company was in crisis.
The book was slightly annoying in parts, wherein, no less than three times was it mentioned that it we must all be thankful to Tesla for the radio, the smartphone we are holding, the tablet we’re using, etc. While the need to acknowledge his contribution is fine, I don’t think it is logical to expect people to thank Alexander Graham Bell when they dial a number, John Logie Baird when they switch on the television, etc. Similar to my point on Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s biography by Hourly History, Tesla too was an engineer and some diagrams and illustrations would have helped (such as the Tesla coil).
Tesla did achieve a lot of things, but certainly not as what the cult projects, as being the inventor of practically everything and I might have appreciated the book more had they dedicated a small paragraph in the conclusion debunking those myths (such as Tesla inventing radar technology).
I would award the book a rating of three on five.
The book starts with his birth in modern day Croatia, how he was very sharp in studies but eventually dropping out of college because of his gambling addiction. It goes to describe his working life with telephones at Budapest and job as a teaching assistant in Prague before finally moving on to the United States. He initially worked for Edison and later, with his game changing invention of a working alternating current (AC) system for Westinghouse, became Edison’s direct competitor. It talks about his legal disputes with Marconi over the invention of radio. Tesla was debt-ridden and the book eventually ends with his death in absolute penury and moving into obscurity.
The book brought out the fact that Tesla was a visionary very well; that he imagined things and he worked to create them, even things which were unimaginable in his time such as wireless technology or alternating current. It also brought out how Tesla didn’t care for money so long as he was given his space to conduct experiments and invent things, such as how he tore up the royalty agreement with Westinghouse when the company was in crisis.
The book was slightly annoying in parts, wherein, no less than three times was it mentioned that it we must all be thankful to Tesla for the radio, the smartphone we are holding, the tablet we’re using, etc. While the need to acknowledge his contribution is fine, I don’t think it is logical to expect people to thank Alexander Graham Bell when they dial a number, John Logie Baird when they switch on the television, etc. Similar to my point on Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s biography by Hourly History, Tesla too was an engineer and some diagrams and illustrations would have helped (such as the Tesla coil).
Tesla did achieve a lot of things, but certainly not as what the cult projects, as being the inventor of practically everything and I might have appreciated the book more had they dedicated a small paragraph in the conclusion debunking those myths (such as Tesla inventing radar technology).
I would award the book a rating of three on five.
March 23, 2024
Tesla was a weird one!
What is interesting is that it's not really acknowledged.
Like, it's just Tesla was so awesome and cool and such a maverick! What a great guy!
After reading this I think he was:
-Bipolar/manic depressive (He could work 18 hours straight and have frenzies of activity)
-Autistic (Seemed to have difficulty relating to normal people)
-OCD (Lots and lots of quirky behavior)
-Egotistical/Delusional/Narcissist (Firmly believed he knew better than everyone else)
He also didn't seem to be very good at business/managing money as evidenced by the fact he was constantly going bankrupt.
Of course, he was also smart, ambitious and hard working.
But I think if he had been a little bit less delusional, gotten along better with people and been better at the business side of things, he would have ended up considerably richer, more famous and probably with even more intellectual/scientific accomplishments.
And to be clear he was still extremely successful. Just making major contributions to the practical use of alternating currents is already an accomplishment for a lifetime.
His positive aspects flow directly from his flaws: he was confident in his ideas, he was a risk taker, he was ambitious, he did not allow practical obstacles to slow him down.
But looking at his career, it seems he was most successful when he worked with others who were able to ground him a little bit and figure out the business side of things.
Reading this made me curious about the detailed historical developments of that 1875-1925 period when practical applications of electricity and electromagnetic waves were being developed. Like what was the exact sequence of steps, who did what, etc.
Also almost made me wish I had studied electrical engineering instead of computer science at university, then I would possibly have understood the science and math behind all this stuff. (But not really since I love CS, although EE would have been kind of fun!)
What is interesting is that it's not really acknowledged.
Like, it's just Tesla was so awesome and cool and such a maverick! What a great guy!
After reading this I think he was:
-Bipolar/manic depressive (He could work 18 hours straight and have frenzies of activity)
-Autistic (Seemed to have difficulty relating to normal people)
-OCD (Lots and lots of quirky behavior)
-Egotistical/Delusional/Narcissist (Firmly believed he knew better than everyone else)
He also didn't seem to be very good at business/managing money as evidenced by the fact he was constantly going bankrupt.
Of course, he was also smart, ambitious and hard working.
But I think if he had been a little bit less delusional, gotten along better with people and been better at the business side of things, he would have ended up considerably richer, more famous and probably with even more intellectual/scientific accomplishments.
And to be clear he was still extremely successful. Just making major contributions to the practical use of alternating currents is already an accomplishment for a lifetime.
His positive aspects flow directly from his flaws: he was confident in his ideas, he was a risk taker, he was ambitious, he did not allow practical obstacles to slow him down.
But looking at his career, it seems he was most successful when he worked with others who were able to ground him a little bit and figure out the business side of things.
Reading this made me curious about the detailed historical developments of that 1875-1925 period when practical applications of electricity and electromagnetic waves were being developed. Like what was the exact sequence of steps, who did what, etc.
Also almost made me wish I had studied electrical engineering instead of computer science at university, then I would possibly have understood the science and math behind all this stuff. (But not really since I love CS, although EE would have been kind of fun!)
April 14, 2019
I learned a lot from this short biography. In the past I had watched a bio about Tesla on Netflix so I thought I knew a fair amount about him but this book had many facts I found interesting. Tesla was born on July 10, 1856, in modern day Croatia. From a very young age he could memorize entire books and mathematical tables that astounded those around him. He learned new languages easily and needed only a few hours sleep at night. He could perform integral in his head, the the point that teachers thought he was cheating. While walking through the park one day, Tesla had a vision that he quickly drew out as a diagram in the dirt to show his friend that demonstrated the principle of rotating magnetic fields created by two or more alternating currents. By the end of Tesla's life he was the inventor of alternating current, xrays, the radio, radar, hydroelectric energy, remote control, neon lighting, the modern classic motor, and wireless communication. He envisioned today's smartphone. Many of Tesla's inventions still remain classified to this day - People have requested some of them via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and when they received them they have been highly censored. His life was a struggle, he tangled with and was cheated by Thomas Edison, he gave up his royalties that Westinghouse owed him and that would have made him a very rich man, and he died alone and in poverty. He was inventing and creating theories in his head up the day that he died, all of which died with him because he carried everything in his head instead of putting the ideas on blueprints. By the end of this short biography I was left totally amazed by this remarkable man.
March 3, 2020
This was another tiny books. Roughly 36 pages on the Kindle.
I enjoyed learning about Tesla. This man invented and spent his time working toward what is our present technological state. But what's more amazing was his work ethic. In today's world, younger people like me get a bad reputation. It comes jokingly, but I can also see how people don't have much faith in the younger, lazy generation. The "phone people". I, myself, don't spend anytime on the phone unless something important comes up, but still, I think that harder work would put me where I want to be in life. And Nikola Tesla might be the inspiration I've been looking for.
I couldn't believe what this book was stating, so I did some research. The articles said the same. Nikola Tesla would work 20 hour days and sleep for 4 and get to work again. Rinse and repeat. He knew what he wanted to accomplish, failed, and continued to work on his inventions. Not only that, but even though his hard labor worked well and he did what he wanted, Tesla got paid little and even made some major mistakes where he didn't make the money he was truthy worth. He would have been the wealthiest man at that time, but he declined several times for some type of patents.
That's amazing!! Not because of the money lost, but because he didn't care about the money. He cared about making electricity wireless. Something that is probably possible today, but the people need our money. Imagine no electric bill.
Wow.
Tesla was amazing.
I recommend this title to anyone interested in Tesla. These Hourly History are fun to read.
I enjoyed learning about Tesla. This man invented and spent his time working toward what is our present technological state. But what's more amazing was his work ethic. In today's world, younger people like me get a bad reputation. It comes jokingly, but I can also see how people don't have much faith in the younger, lazy generation. The "phone people". I, myself, don't spend anytime on the phone unless something important comes up, but still, I think that harder work would put me where I want to be in life. And Nikola Tesla might be the inspiration I've been looking for.
I couldn't believe what this book was stating, so I did some research. The articles said the same. Nikola Tesla would work 20 hour days and sleep for 4 and get to work again. Rinse and repeat. He knew what he wanted to accomplish, failed, and continued to work on his inventions. Not only that, but even though his hard labor worked well and he did what he wanted, Tesla got paid little and even made some major mistakes where he didn't make the money he was truthy worth. He would have been the wealthiest man at that time, but he declined several times for some type of patents.
That's amazing!! Not because of the money lost, but because he didn't care about the money. He cared about making electricity wireless. Something that is probably possible today, but the people need our money. Imagine no electric bill.
Wow.
Tesla was amazing.
I recommend this title to anyone interested in Tesla. These Hourly History are fun to read.
October 2, 2018
Nikola Tesla
While the book is comparatively short, there is a lot of information about Nikola Tesla's life and legacy. The book is written in a biographical format rather than cliff note factoids, and helps to paint a picture of a man's life rather than simply helping a student study for a test.
I will say that it is clear the author of this book thinks highly of Tesla, which means a lot of the wording is positive and glorifying. That being said, even some of the more unflattering views and occurrences in Tesla's life are not omitted. On the one hand he had a brilliant mother, an illustrious career, and patented over 700 inventions. On the other hand he lived alone his entire life, thought survival of the fittest was preferable to pitying the weak, and built a death ray. No, really. A death ray. Hey, I guess I did learn something :)
So anyway, I would recommend this book for someone who has some time to kill and wants to learn more about how an underdog worked his way to the top, and then fell slightly below that, and somehow changed the world anyway :)
While the book is comparatively short, there is a lot of information about Nikola Tesla's life and legacy. The book is written in a biographical format rather than cliff note factoids, and helps to paint a picture of a man's life rather than simply helping a student study for a test.
I will say that it is clear the author of this book thinks highly of Tesla, which means a lot of the wording is positive and glorifying. That being said, even some of the more unflattering views and occurrences in Tesla's life are not omitted. On the one hand he had a brilliant mother, an illustrious career, and patented over 700 inventions. On the other hand he lived alone his entire life, thought survival of the fittest was preferable to pitying the weak, and built a death ray. No, really. A death ray. Hey, I guess I did learn something :)
So anyway, I would recommend this book for someone who has some time to kill and wants to learn more about how an underdog worked his way to the top, and then fell slightly below that, and somehow changed the world anyway :)
September 13, 2020
Well, if you are looking for a bare-bones summary of what Nikola Tesla accomplished in his life (good or bad), yet do not want to dive into a full-on biography book, you can stop looking.
This short little book is surprisingly informative. The man was a fascinating genius who just never received all the recognition and praise he deserved for what he invented and gave to the world.
This is the second Hourly History book I have read, and they were both informative and enjoyable without being overly bogged down with every little detail about the subject. They are short, to the point, and quick to read. They flow pretty nice, and somehow they get the entire start to finish story jammed into a few dozen pages.
This short little book is surprisingly informative. The man was a fascinating genius who just never received all the recognition and praise he deserved for what he invented and gave to the world.
This is the second Hourly History book I have read, and they were both informative and enjoyable without being overly bogged down with every little detail about the subject. They are short, to the point, and quick to read. They flow pretty nice, and somehow they get the entire start to finish story jammed into a few dozen pages.
December 27, 2021
I enjoyed the book. It's very informative, and it's a great introduction for anyone who wants to get to know Tesla. However, the author introduces a chapter with the following quote attributed to Einstein: "Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics." I googled it, because the quote struck me as super "pseudo-sciency", and as it turns out it has never been proven that Einstein said it, but that the quote belongs to one Darryl Anka, who first spoke it in 1996. This quote doesn't even make sense in the context of Einstein's work, and it's definitely NOT physics. It makes me question the level of research put into the book.
May 3, 2018
After reading about the life of Nikola Tesla I can confirm that you should at least once read about Tesla's life and read about the up's and downs. His achievements and his downfalls.
He is one of the most underrated Scientists although he has achieved many accomplishments that we do not give a second thought to.
Tesla had an amazing intellect and could understand and solve complicated equations mathematical and Physics equations. But alas had a gambling addiction that would cause debt and doubt in what his purpose in life was.
Overall the book had a brilliant overview on the Scientist Nikola Tesla.
He is one of the most underrated Scientists although he has achieved many accomplishments that we do not give a second thought to.
Tesla had an amazing intellect and could understand and solve complicated equations mathematical and Physics equations. But alas had a gambling addiction that would cause debt and doubt in what his purpose in life was.
Overall the book had a brilliant overview on the Scientist Nikola Tesla.
July 3, 2019
The book itself is pretty short, like all the books from the series, but Nikola Tesla was such a larger than life character that I wouldn't know how many books would be necessary to make him justice.
This man was arguably one of the most influential, if not THE most, and at the same time underrated, thinker of this generation. A genius, scientist, engineer, inventor, he basically single-handedly created the 21th century and many of the inventions that we enjoy today.
Fascinating figure, like really we have seen.
Sad history realized it too late.
This man was arguably one of the most influential, if not THE most, and at the same time underrated, thinker of this generation. A genius, scientist, engineer, inventor, he basically single-handedly created the 21th century and many of the inventions that we enjoy today.
Fascinating figure, like really we have seen.
Sad history realized it too late.
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