by Nikola Tesla
First published 1919
Nikola Tesla opens his personal account with reflections on the discoveries that shaped the modern world. The brilliant inventor details his creation of the rotating magnetic field, the development of his famous coil, and his work on the magnifying transmitter. Tesla chronicles his ongoing conflict with Thomas Edison, revealing the personal cost of their professional disagreements. He describes his unconventional methods and the misunderstandings that surrounded his eccentric reputation. The inventor explains how his visions led to breakthroughs in radio technology, wireless energy transmission, and early robotics. Tesla examines the gap between his ambitious dreams and the practical limitations he faced. His narrative captures both his scientific triumphs and the isolation that marked his later years. The book includes additional writings that expand on his theoretical work and inventive process.
Genres: biography, science, 20th-century, non-fiction, 21st-century, history-of-science
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: conflict, personal-cost, scientific-breakthroughs
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century
167 pages · Paperback · Penguin Classics