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Pieces of the Action
In Pieces of the Action, Vannevar Bush—engineer, inventor, educator, and public face of government-funded science—offers an inside account of one of the most innovative research and development ecosystems of the 20th century. As the architect and administrator of an R&D pipeline that efficiently coordinated the work of civilian scientists and the military during World War II, he was central to catalyzing the development of radar and the proximity fuze, the mass production of penicillin, and the initiation of the Manhattan Project. Pieces of the Action offers his hard-won lessons on how to operate and manage effectively within complex organizations, build bridges between people and disciplines, and drive ambitious, unprecedented programs to fruition. Originally published in 1970, this updated edition includes a foreword from Ben Reinhardt that contextualizes the lessons Pieces of the Action can offer to contemporary readers: that change depends both on heroic individuals and effective organizations; that a leader’s job is one of coordination; and that the path from idea to innovation is a long and winding one, inextricably bound to those involved—those enduring figures who have a piece of the action.
376 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1970
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 22, 2023
4.5 stars
I loved the meandering, semi-autobiographical accounts of Vannevar Bush, a scientist, inventor, engineer, and very capable government administrator during key WW2 periods.
Another great Stripe Press book... I have seven of fourteen, and I think I need to complete the set. Only one dud so far.
Bush lived from 1890 to 1974, and this book was first published near the end of his incredible life in 1970. As a result the book suffers from the gendered language of his era: the people that Bush worked with are exclusively "men" and if women are mentioned at all they are "girls".
A great read for those interested in the intersection of history, engineering, innovation, invention, and politics.
I loved the meandering, semi-autobiographical accounts of Vannevar Bush, a scientist, inventor, engineer, and very capable government administrator during key WW2 periods.
Another great Stripe Press book... I have seven of fourteen, and I think I need to complete the set. Only one dud so far.
Bush lived from 1890 to 1974, and this book was first published near the end of his incredible life in 1970. As a result the book suffers from the gendered language of his era: the people that Bush worked with are exclusively "men" and if women are mentioned at all they are "girls".
A great read for those interested in the intersection of history, engineering, innovation, invention, and politics.
November 7, 2022
This book is … so thought provoking. This is the automemoir of the man who originated the American science complex centered around universities, and who first originated the idea of our text based personal computers (which he called Memexs). If you want to understand how we got to the technology of today, and why questions of organizational and political incentives for science and innovation matter, this book is a key part of the puzzle. If you’re looking for the plan go and read the endless frontier, his report to Congress in the postwar years about how science would become the engine of our growth (fair warning nobody has ever actually read this report in its entirety today, me included).
One thing that struck me (not deep philosophy wise but style of writing wise) is how Bush describes the other scientists and civil servants he worked with throughout his career. People who helped us win the war and who then set up the apparatuses of our industry afterwards, but whose names and contributions may be overlooked by the annals of history. He gives them space, as if he were still mentoring them, in his memoir to say that we should appreciate their contributions. There are very obviously issues with this work in terms of where and when he is writing from, but the introduction by the new editor covers well how to approach these perspectives we find disagreeable (or downright detestable) today.
One thing that struck me (not deep philosophy wise but style of writing wise) is how Bush describes the other scientists and civil servants he worked with throughout his career. People who helped us win the war and who then set up the apparatuses of our industry afterwards, but whose names and contributions may be overlooked by the annals of history. He gives them space, as if he were still mentoring them, in his memoir to say that we should appreciate their contributions. There are very obviously issues with this work in terms of where and when he is writing from, but the introduction by the new editor covers well how to approach these perspectives we find disagreeable (or downright detestable) today.
June 9, 2023
An authentic first person account of how many of the political personas during WWII shaped and crafted defense funding and science policy. While many know Bush for his Endless Frontier memo, the opinionated policy paper that designed our current science funding infrastructure, I think his autobiography reveals the more personal virtues requisite in a leader: humility, trust, and communication. An insightful read into a leader, teacher, and mentor. Kudos to stripe press for bringing another lost classic back to print
September 22, 2025
A breezy memoir by the man who invented America’s modern system of basic scientific research, and who also forecast the eventual emergence of the Internet. Bush is a raconteur, and somewhat surprisingly for a man who is famous for his organizational prowess, always places human personalities at the center of every story he tells, even as he makes brilliant observations about organizational dynamics. At the center of his concerns is the question of how best to ensure the development of military technologies, and what sorts of relationships must be established between the scientists and the brass, with two such radically different ethos: the scientists, dedicated to questioning and falsification and the pureness of ideas; the military, with its necessary commitment to hierarchy and top-down decision-making. This view of both science and the military of course very much reflects extant ideas from the mid-century which are now very much out of vogue. What does remain true for both the military and science however is a necessary commitment to facing the empirical truth with dispassion — a loss of such an ethos is equally fatal to both enterprises.
January 19, 2015
I had never heard of Vannevar Bush before reading this book. That is why he wrote it, I think. He did so many things during his years as a scientist, inventor of the Bush differential Analyzer which was the start of modern computer analysis, Dean of engineering at MIT, president of Carnegie institution, advisor to Presidents Roosevelt and Truman and only winner of the Atomic Pioneers Award given by Nixon.
In this book, he gave opinions and advice on everything anyone could ever come up with. I think some very good advice which our military and government leaders of today are in sore need of.
First few chapters were a bit dull as he described The set up and functions of different government agencies.
I was quite surprised at his positive thoughts about Hoover which he backed up with facts.
This was no autobiography . It was what he saw and thought about the actions of those he was involved with and he wanted to make sure the world new about his contributions during WWII. He invented a fuse which changed the war.
In this book, he gave opinions and advice on everything anyone could ever come up with. I think some very good advice which our military and government leaders of today are in sore need of.
First few chapters were a bit dull as he described The set up and functions of different government agencies.
I was quite surprised at his positive thoughts about Hoover which he backed up with facts.
This was no autobiography . It was what he saw and thought about the actions of those he was involved with and he wanted to make sure the world new about his contributions during WWII. He invented a fuse which changed the war.
August 25, 2025
[1] Bush has quite a dim view of the institutional management of British science during WW2. Frequently, he points out that Churchill has too much influence over Cherwell (and it's Churchill's fault), he devotes an entire chapter to decrying the archetype of Geoffrey Pyke ("how to mitigate and excise tyros from an institution"), and his only interactions with Churchill were spats over the post-war sharing of nuclear secrets (which caused Churchill to ask FDR to fire him). In general, complaints are that it was overcomplicated, insufficiently meritocratic, and subject to the political whims of the executive. Britishers did not understand the importance of the "engineer." Of course, he quite likes Britishers on the whole, but there is a sense in which the British effort had negative polarity on exactly the qualities which made the OSRD so effective.
[2] What did make the OSRD effective? Autonomy, resources, collaboration with industry and academics, and a culture which made sure that issues were raised to the correct person, regardless of status. FDR never interfered with its runnings, even when they encompassed the Manhattan Project. Bush himself fielded suggestions on anti-submarine warfare from American hobbyists looking to contribute. Effective managers were essential—people who were well respected, deferred to authority, and could execute with little direction. Beyond that, it seems like Bush himself was essential, if only because of the sheer weight of the interpersonal relationships needed to be cultivated while working in Washington. The book itself is simply a long series of anecdotes involving important people, discussing their moods and motivations. Ultimately, this is how the world runs.
[3] He is proud of the development of the proximity fuze and the mass production of penicillin. Neither would have been possible without intense scientific research as well as the might of American industry being brought to bear. With regards to the modern day, I do believe that this is a lesson to never quite underestimate the potential state capacity of the American nation. Bush himself highlights that the pluralism of technological development in American peacetime is exactly what makes it so powerful during war—the USA can simply generate ideas and implement them at scale much more effectively than any other.
[4] The anecdotes are quite wonderful. I enjoyed his advice on teaching; his discussion of what it meant to be an "inventor"; his admiration of Harry Truman and those in the Roosevelt administration who, despite holding absurd economic views, were still good men; his promotion of steam-powered cars (!); his appreciation of "military men"; and many others. A reminder of a different time.
[2] What did make the OSRD effective? Autonomy, resources, collaboration with industry and academics, and a culture which made sure that issues were raised to the correct person, regardless of status. FDR never interfered with its runnings, even when they encompassed the Manhattan Project. Bush himself fielded suggestions on anti-submarine warfare from American hobbyists looking to contribute. Effective managers were essential—people who were well respected, deferred to authority, and could execute with little direction. Beyond that, it seems like Bush himself was essential, if only because of the sheer weight of the interpersonal relationships needed to be cultivated while working in Washington. The book itself is simply a long series of anecdotes involving important people, discussing their moods and motivations. Ultimately, this is how the world runs.
[3] He is proud of the development of the proximity fuze and the mass production of penicillin. Neither would have been possible without intense scientific research as well as the might of American industry being brought to bear. With regards to the modern day, I do believe that this is a lesson to never quite underestimate the potential state capacity of the American nation. Bush himself highlights that the pluralism of technological development in American peacetime is exactly what makes it so powerful during war—the USA can simply generate ideas and implement them at scale much more effectively than any other.
[4] The anecdotes are quite wonderful. I enjoyed his advice on teaching; his discussion of what it meant to be an "inventor"; his admiration of Harry Truman and those in the Roosevelt administration who, despite holding absurd economic views, were still good men; his promotion of steam-powered cars (!); his appreciation of "military men"; and many others. A reminder of a different time.
October 19, 2024
This is a memoir by Vannevar Bush, a key figure in America's Second World War efforts. He led the OSRD, was on the joint new weapons committee, and was the chief scientific advisor to FDR.
This book is part history of Washington D.C. during the 1940s and part organizational philosophy, specifically on how groups of researchers and scientists can deliver innovation in times of need by working together with the military complex.
This book has some overlap with Freedom's Forge, which I found more compelling as a history book. This book is expecially interesting for those who want to study how organizations are built, and for those keen to learn about war and the military and research complex.
If you are looking for books on innovation and entrepreneurship in the U.S. in the 20th century outside the realm of government, I'd recommend Men and Rubber by Harvey Firestone.
P.S. This was the first book for which I fed my notes into NotebookLM. I loved seeing the question-answer pairs in the study guide! Super helpful.
Some specific highlights:
- Bush first started the NDRC (national defense research council), which was established by an executive order from FDR in June 1940. He had pitched this idea himself. At that time, he was dean of engineering at MIT.
- Later, FDR asked him to also take on medical research. He did, forming the Committee for Medical Research (CMR), and adding CMR and NDRC into the newly formed office of scientific research and develop (OSRD).
- One of the innovations I didn't know about is the proximity fuze. For anti aircraft fire, you want a shell to explode when it is close to the aircraft, because a shell has a low chance of hitting the aircraft and thus destroying it. By letting it explode when it is near the aircraft, you increase the chance of damaging the aircraft. The proximity fuse was first used in the Battle of Buges and decimated German forces, which saved Liege.
- Bush introduced the idea of amateur, tyro, and professional. A tyro is someone who actively tries to confuse channels. The example is Pyke, who had the idea for a floating island of ice in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
- During the war, there was a National Inventors Council. Any person could submit an idea. More than 100k were submitted, although none were particularly transformative.
- Bush also speaks of the difference between inventions and those that are commercialized -- which we would now call innovations.
This book is part history of Washington D.C. during the 1940s and part organizational philosophy, specifically on how groups of researchers and scientists can deliver innovation in times of need by working together with the military complex.
This book has some overlap with Freedom's Forge, which I found more compelling as a history book. This book is expecially interesting for those who want to study how organizations are built, and for those keen to learn about war and the military and research complex.
If you are looking for books on innovation and entrepreneurship in the U.S. in the 20th century outside the realm of government, I'd recommend Men and Rubber by Harvey Firestone.
P.S. This was the first book for which I fed my notes into NotebookLM. I loved seeing the question-answer pairs in the study guide! Super helpful.
Some specific highlights:
- Bush first started the NDRC (national defense research council), which was established by an executive order from FDR in June 1940. He had pitched this idea himself. At that time, he was dean of engineering at MIT.
- Later, FDR asked him to also take on medical research. He did, forming the Committee for Medical Research (CMR), and adding CMR and NDRC into the newly formed office of scientific research and develop (OSRD).
- One of the innovations I didn't know about is the proximity fuze. For anti aircraft fire, you want a shell to explode when it is close to the aircraft, because a shell has a low chance of hitting the aircraft and thus destroying it. By letting it explode when it is near the aircraft, you increase the chance of damaging the aircraft. The proximity fuse was first used in the Battle of Buges and decimated German forces, which saved Liege.
- Bush introduced the idea of amateur, tyro, and professional. A tyro is someone who actively tries to confuse channels. The example is Pyke, who had the idea for a floating island of ice in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
- During the war, there was a National Inventors Council. Any person could submit an idea. More than 100k were submitted, although none were particularly transformative.
- Bush also speaks of the difference between inventions and those that are commercialized -- which we would now call innovations.
May 4, 2025
Pride of the right sort does not go before a fall; pride of accomplishment leads to greater accomplishment.
Little things become submerged when great things are dominant.
Battles and campaigns are not won by staying on the defensive…
It is right to be taught even by an enemy.
Innovations are very likely to appear outside the organization that could find them useful …
The inventor who works alone, who is isolated from the current trend of thought, and who hence does not grasp where the real opportunities lie, seldom makes a worthwhile invention.
Other criteria for a worthy hobby, I believe, are that it should require work and study, have novelty, and be all-absorbing while it is being pursued.
If a hobby can be mastered offhand, it can not last.
The teacher's task, whether in kindergarten or graduate school, is not primarily to impart information. It is to guide the student mind in its search for knowledge-the gathering of information, the understanding of its implications and applications, the consequent growth of knowledge, and, it is to be hoped, the ultimate growth of wisdom.
The basis on which I believe he was a good teacher is that he radiated an atmosphere of success; he inspired students to set their objectives high. If a teacher does that, what matters a bit of irregularity?
But we can take a more restricted view as we examine why we teach in our colleges. There are two reasons. First, the practical one: so that the man educated may contribute to the public welfare to the best of his ability, and, in the process of doing so, achieve a good standard of living. Second, so that he may find pleasure and satisfaction as he does so. The respect bestowed by the public on colleges and their teachers should be in accordance with how well these criteria are met. Influence in the community, leadership in this sense, should follow on the heels of respect.
In short, the essence of teaching is that simple fundamentals should not be lost in a maze of intricacy.
The task of teaching in colleges is not merely to provide student with the skills necessary for a professional career and to prepare them fo the bases on which informal collaboration with their fellows is facilitated but to go beyond these and provide the foundations for associative relationships that may become worthy, not merely trivial, and which confer genuine satisfaction upon those who participate.
Little things become submerged when great things are dominant.
Battles and campaigns are not won by staying on the defensive…
It is right to be taught even by an enemy.
Innovations are very likely to appear outside the organization that could find them useful …
The inventor who works alone, who is isolated from the current trend of thought, and who hence does not grasp where the real opportunities lie, seldom makes a worthwhile invention.
Other criteria for a worthy hobby, I believe, are that it should require work and study, have novelty, and be all-absorbing while it is being pursued.
If a hobby can be mastered offhand, it can not last.
The teacher's task, whether in kindergarten or graduate school, is not primarily to impart information. It is to guide the student mind in its search for knowledge-the gathering of information, the understanding of its implications and applications, the consequent growth of knowledge, and, it is to be hoped, the ultimate growth of wisdom.
The basis on which I believe he was a good teacher is that he radiated an atmosphere of success; he inspired students to set their objectives high. If a teacher does that, what matters a bit of irregularity?
But we can take a more restricted view as we examine why we teach in our colleges. There are two reasons. First, the practical one: so that the man educated may contribute to the public welfare to the best of his ability, and, in the process of doing so, achieve a good standard of living. Second, so that he may find pleasure and satisfaction as he does so. The respect bestowed by the public on colleges and their teachers should be in accordance with how well these criteria are met. Influence in the community, leadership in this sense, should follow on the heels of respect.
In short, the essence of teaching is that simple fundamentals should not be lost in a maze of intricacy.
The task of teaching in colleges is not merely to provide student with the skills necessary for a professional career and to prepare them fo the bases on which informal collaboration with their fellows is facilitated but to go beyond these and provide the foundations for associative relationships that may become worthy, not merely trivial, and which confer genuine satisfaction upon those who participate.
December 31, 2023
An overview of all the organizational, political, and intrapersonal considerations when engaging in engineering projects, based on Vannevar Bush's own experiences leading many projects primarily for the military. This book is decorated throughout with Bush's anecdotes of his very unique experiences, as well as his ideas for the future. Those ideas, by the way, are impressively accurate. If he hadn't been the OSRD guy and instead became a simple author, he would've been remembered as a visionary.
His experiences dealing with red tape, stupid people, and cultural issues provide tons of fascinating case studies, such as how his u-boat attack system never really got used due to all the bureaucracy, or how Englishmen didn't want to work with "engineers" so he just changed everyone's title to "scientist" (reminds me of the current climate of data scientists... different story).
This books has a lots of lessons for engineering, leadership, and history; quite the package. Very enjoyable read.
His experiences dealing with red tape, stupid people, and cultural issues provide tons of fascinating case studies, such as how his u-boat attack system never really got used due to all the bureaucracy, or how Englishmen didn't want to work with "engineers" so he just changed everyone's title to "scientist" (reminds me of the current climate of data scientists... different story).
This books has a lots of lessons for engineering, leadership, and history; quite the package. Very enjoyable read.
March 7, 2024
I had never heard about Vannevar Bush before, and I really liked this book. The thesis might be a little bit widespread... but you can think of this as an autobiography of Vannevar's work and research for the government, touching various topics such as:
- Why during a period of 60 years the US invented the atomic bomb, Darpa net, the lidar sensor, etc. when other countries (during the war years) were simply thinking about different variations of tank and fighter plane models
- Why it was very important to R&D at the core of the government, and not just as something secondary to achieve this
- His talks with different presidents
- Different inventions they tried building during those years (eg: A first try for an electric car)
- How unexpected innovation can be. Inventions created by one department ended up benefiting another one.
- Why during a period of 60 years the US invented the atomic bomb, Darpa net, the lidar sensor, etc. when other countries (during the war years) were simply thinking about different variations of tank and fighter plane models
- Why it was very important to R&D at the core of the government, and not just as something secondary to achieve this
- His talks with different presidents
- Different inventions they tried building during those years (eg: A first try for an electric car)
- How unexpected innovation can be. Inventions created by one department ended up benefiting another one.
April 25, 2023
This autobiography tells the story of Vannevar Bush, an engineer who was a key player in the room for many pivotal moments in American political and technological history. A lot of his ideas about computing, personal technology, and the way that we should manage organizations and scientific research are compelling and important, and it’s clear to see his impact (and the pitfalls he pointed out!) in retrospect.
That being said, I found this book a bit hard to get through - he meanders quite a bit, he is both too technical and not technical enough, and it was a bit repetitive. That being said, I’m glad I read it, and I am grateful to have a more complete appreciation of his influence and work from a more personal point of view.
That being said, I found this book a bit hard to get through - he meanders quite a bit, he is both too technical and not technical enough, and it was a bit repetitive. That being said, I’m glad I read it, and I am grateful to have a more complete appreciation of his influence and work from a more personal point of view.
November 13, 2023
A personal account of Vannevar Bush - one of the most important government administrators in the making of the modern American scientific enterprise. An accomplished scientist, Bush is most remembered for heading the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD), a government institution from which the Manhattan Project was born out of. and which greatly influenced the relationship between the government and the scientific community. The account does not follow a particular plot, and there are a lot of irrelevant digressions Bush makes, however, there are still many golden nuggets to be found in his story.
January 13, 2024
Fascinating person who was at so many important crossroads. Book was a little all over the place, but I didn't mind because he was a true inventor fascinated by people who followed his curiosities. The book is authentic to his way of seeing the world as an engineer. I liked his anecdotes about politics, and his speculations about the future that we are now living in. America was a different place back then and this book is like time travel. It was surprisingly positive considering he wrote it in the late 60s when America looked the most bleak.
November 13, 2022
Not what you might expect from a key player in what became the military-industrial-scientific complex: some memoir mixed in with a lot of discursive musings about education, science and business and youth these days versus the past (1970).
Two of seven chapters are more directly about the war years (anti-submarine effort, proximity fuze, DUKW, a passing mention of the Manhattan project), but the last chapter is well worth reading for impressions of Churchill, Roosevelt and Truman.
Two of seven chapters are more directly about the war years (anti-submarine effort, proximity fuze, DUKW, a passing mention of the Manhattan project), but the last chapter is well worth reading for impressions of Churchill, Roosevelt and Truman.
April 20, 2023
I'm probably not ready for this book, advices land on my deaf ear. Not surprisingly, the man was advising 7 US presidents, and he was very kind to tell ask about that with personal stories, which are quite nice and enlightening. I was looking for some actionable wisdom, or at least comprehensive account of of science worked during and around WWII, but found none of that.
Besides that, the book is written using incredibly gendered language, probably the mark of 70's.
Besides that, the book is written using incredibly gendered language, probably the mark of 70's.
July 11, 2024
This is one part memoir and one part aspiration, by a man who spent his life deep in science and policy. He talks about his light-conservative politics, his history of involvement in the war, and tries to impart his wisdom of the future generations of engineers. He spends a bit of the book just nerding out about engineering things, which is completely understandable. It's a bit long in some places, but overall a worthwhile read for any engineer.
December 24, 2025
Serious men of Bush's time who contributed to the war (I'm thinking also of Leslie Groves) have a penchant for gassing up their colleagues by saying things like "He was a fine man. I never knew a more diligent and hardworking engineer. When we had disagreements, they were always productive."
I'm impressed with how good Bush was at picking his battles.
I am fighting rating inflation, and two stars means "it was ok".
I'm impressed with how good Bush was at picking his battles.
I am fighting rating inflation, and two stars means "it was ok".
November 25, 2022
A nice read that has good personal narrative of historical events from a person who was in the room. Also helpful and informative about how decisions were made in historical events, how to get things done with bureaucracy, and how to use science as a driving force for good in the world.
Read
December 13, 2022Really interesting summary of Vannevar bush's career. Truly unique individual who was not only an innovative engineer but also a good manager and statesmen. Good stories on both engineering and navigating bureaucracy.
December 4, 2023
Fascinating book brought back into print by Stripe press.
He is a fascinating polymath engineer who helped invent and build many of the weapons that helped win world war 2, but even more impressive was his ability to communicate with and inspire the politicians and others.
He is a fascinating polymath engineer who helped invent and build many of the weapons that helped win world war 2, but even more impressive was his ability to communicate with and inspire the politicians and others.
May 6, 2024
I've come across this one being advised by Casey J. Handmer. A nice book in itself, it has a lot about history, engineering, and management. Also, it is curious to read an autobiography of someone of such a high rank.
The volume is although a bit lopsided, in my view, and overly specific.
The volume is although a bit lopsided, in my view, and overly specific.
August 19, 2025
Only one man can make such impressive feats read so incredibly tedious and bland. That man is Vannevar Bush. Pages and pages of incongruous ramblings on meetings, meetings and more meetings.
The cover and pictures are 10/10, kudos to Stripe Press for coming in with the clutch yet again.
The cover and pictures are 10/10, kudos to Stripe Press for coming in with the clutch yet again.
December 5, 2022
DNF. Bush is probably a fascinating person but his writing is dull and rambling.
February 2, 2023
Maybe a bit dated and not as much technical detail as I would have liked but an engaging account written by a fascinating man who was at the center of American scientific R&D during WWII and after.
August 1, 2023
Incredible book that I’m so thankful was re-published.
August 6, 2023
Timeless reflections on technological development, working in organizations, and leadership.
February 8, 2025
Had to DNF, for Christ's sake. I understand the guy was key in plenty of political decisions related to computers, but the writing is awful.
Read
December 28, 2025Absolutely worth a read!
April 11, 2023
An engaging autobiography, with many surprising insights into wartime research in the United States. Bush relates fun anecdotes, making observations about how people and organizations function that still apply today.
May 30, 2025
Interesting but a bit uneven. Some parts could bore you to death, some were excellent. Loved the part about hobbies.
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