by Jon Gernter
First published 2012
Bell Labs stands as the most important research institution of the modern era. Gernter traces the laboratory's history from its founding through its golden age, when scientists and engineers developed transistors, lasers, satellites, and digital communications. The author examines how Bell Labs fostered innovation through its unique culture of collaboration between theoretical researchers and practical engineers. Black and white illustrations complement the narrative. Gernter reveals how the lab's parent company, AT&T, provided the resources and long-term vision necessary for breakthrough discoveries. The book shows how Bell Labs invented the building blocks of our digital world while operating as a regulated monopoly. Gernter demonstrates that the lab's success came from combining brilliant minds with patient capital and freedom to pursue ambitious projects. This comprehensive account explains how one institution produced more Nobel Prize winners and world-changing inventions than any comparable organization.
Genres: science, 20th-century, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic, history-of-science
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: innovation
Setting: AT&T
Period: Modern Era
432 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Press