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Land's Polaroid: A Company and the Man Who Invented It
Chronicles the story of Edwin Land, the publicity-shy genius who created the Polaroid Corporation and brought the world instant photography, only to lose control of his own creation
258 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 22, 2024
Although a little technical at first, this book expertly brings you alongside the journey of Edwin Land as he starts Polaroid. Through thick and thin, I felt as I was there write him. I found myself resonating with Land. I found myself tearing up near the end and wishing my own personal life to be as impactful as his own.
August 24, 2009
First, off - good book, well-written, very interesting tale, and all the usual blah, blah, blah. Read below for the "meat".
Okay. Local guy (well, local after moving and staying here for most of his adult life), goes to Harvard, stops after a year, goes again a bit later for another couple of years, pulls out before graduating because he sees that he can do something better, sooner. So, this guy Edwin Land did the Bill gates thing long before Billy-boy was even a gleam in his parents' eyes.
Then, he goes on to create a super-successful company (with some downs as well as ups) based on being a clever chap who always tried to look at a problem that could be solved by applying science and often differently than everyone else. By the time he retired, Edwin Land was the runner up to Thomas Edison in the most patents awarded to a person race (and neither one of them were racing anybody) with some 800-odd if I recall accurately.
Of course most people associate him and the name "Polaroid" with instant photography. But that's neither how the company "made it big" in the first place, nor how it got its name. I, being sage enough (i.e., old and wise, thank you very much) knew that Land created polarizing material (hence the name) used in many things, but most obviously in Polarized sunglasses.
What I did not know was that the guidance sensor and system used in the original version of the Sidewinder air-launched, heat-seeking missile was created and developed by Polaroid during WWII under contract to the US Navy. Then, at the end of the war he turned over everything to another contractor company so that he could really get to work on this idea that he had itching in his brain: instant photography. The rest as they say is history.
Well, not quite. Another cute fact that I did not know was that until the advent of the color (SX-70) film & development, KODAK made all the negative film used in the B&W instant film packs.
If you remember the lawsuit after KODAK introduced a color instant camera, Polaroid won it (essentially on all counts) because they had developed both the process they chose to use and the process that Kodak did --- and had everything documented.
The writer is good, the story is dry but interesting if you wanted to see how something like this happened (when it went against the pattern of most big, successful companies) and like to read about local things.
Enjoy!
Okay. Local guy (well, local after moving and staying here for most of his adult life), goes to Harvard, stops after a year, goes again a bit later for another couple of years, pulls out before graduating because he sees that he can do something better, sooner. So, this guy Edwin Land did the Bill gates thing long before Billy-boy was even a gleam in his parents' eyes.
Then, he goes on to create a super-successful company (with some downs as well as ups) based on being a clever chap who always tried to look at a problem that could be solved by applying science and often differently than everyone else. By the time he retired, Edwin Land was the runner up to Thomas Edison in the most patents awarded to a person race (and neither one of them were racing anybody) with some 800-odd if I recall accurately.
Of course most people associate him and the name "Polaroid" with instant photography. But that's neither how the company "made it big" in the first place, nor how it got its name. I, being sage enough (i.e., old and wise, thank you very much) knew that Land created polarizing material (hence the name) used in many things, but most obviously in Polarized sunglasses.
What I did not know was that the guidance sensor and system used in the original version of the Sidewinder air-launched, heat-seeking missile was created and developed by Polaroid during WWII under contract to the US Navy. Then, at the end of the war he turned over everything to another contractor company so that he could really get to work on this idea that he had itching in his brain: instant photography. The rest as they say is history.
Well, not quite. Another cute fact that I did not know was that until the advent of the color (SX-70) film & development, KODAK made all the negative film used in the B&W instant film packs.
If you remember the lawsuit after KODAK introduced a color instant camera, Polaroid won it (essentially on all counts) because they had developed both the process they chose to use and the process that Kodak did --- and had everything documented.
The writer is good, the story is dry but interesting if you wanted to see how something like this happened (when it went against the pattern of most big, successful companies) and like to read about local things.
Enjoy!
June 8, 2013
An excellent insider's history of Polaroid, along with unique insight into the secretive genius of Dr. Edwin Land. While this book only covers the history of Polaroid during its glory years from its founding into the 1980s (Instant by Christopher Bonanos is a great companion in that it brings the Polaroid story into the modern day), its still a wonderfully detailed and rich view into just what it took to bring not just iconic cameras like the Swinger and the SX-70 to fruition, but how instant photography and POlaroid managed to assert themselves as indispensable part of the American post-war experience.
May 8, 2011
I have read a couple of books detailing Edwin Land's life and inventions, but this was definitely the best. It was scientific, but written so that you don't have to be a great scientist to understand the work that went into Polaroid and its accomplishments. The fact that the author actually worked for Land and knew him on a somewhat personal level definitely helped bring Land and his company to life.
May 27, 2008
Fascinating history lesson on Edwin Land and his life of invention. If you like history and Polaroids this book is for you.
October 28, 2008
Interesting man, curious colour theory.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews