Tesla Biography?

[lxskllr]

It's been on my mind for while, and I just finished watching this Discovery show on Tesla...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpn33EunGSM

I was wondering if any of you knew of a good biography on Tesla? I'd like something that splits fluff and overly technical writing. I'm looking for an engaging story, and a good overview of his achievements, without getting lost in technical details. Any ideas?

 

[KMFJD]

Five Man Acoustical Jam was an excellent album

 

[kranky]

Can't recommend a book but will agree Tesla is one fascinating dude. Probably was a better inventor than Edison.

 

[Wyndru]

Can't recommend a book but will agree Tesla is one fascinating dude. Probably was a better inventor than Edison.

He is very popular these days. I keep hearing how he wasn't recognized throughout history, but he is definitely a part of pop culture now (for the past 2 decades or so).

 

[ArJuN]

Definitely was a better inventor than Edison.

ftfy. Edison was a douche.

It's nice to see his recognition for him. I can think of Tesla Motors and The Prestige, anything else bringing his name around?

 

[SphinxnihpS]

ftfy. Edison was a douche.

You read cracked.com too much.

 

[dighn]

He is very popular these days. I keep hearing how he wasn't recognized throughout history, but he is definitely a part of pop culture now (for the past 2 decades or so).

not sure how i feel about that. I think tesla was a very smart engineer/scientist, who was also very eccentric and had some crackpot theories. all these pop culture "tesla owns" stuff doesn't really help his credibility imo.

 

[ArJuN]

You read cracked.com too much.

To be honest, I don't. (Though I'm about to look up what you're referring to.)

Yeah they clearly don't like him (or enjoy getting page views). I'm probably biased/over critical, but oh well. I'll never get to meet either men and form a proper opinion.

 

[Blackjack200]

I think I read "Tesla: Man Out of Time" by Margaret Cheney and it was pretty good.

Tesla made some fantastic contributions in the fields of AC Power, AC Motors, and Radio. He failed in his most ambitious goal: to deliver wireless electricity efficiently over short/medium ranges so people could use appliances without having to plug them into the wall.

 

[Printer Bandit]

Tesla talked to pigeons. Bonafide weirdo.

 

[Arcadio]

What a coincidence. I'm reading Tesla: Biography of a Genius by Marc Seifer. It's great so far.

 

[Vdubchaos]

He is very popular these days. I keep hearing how he wasn't recognized throughout history, but he is definitely a part of pop culture now (for the past 2 decades or so).

Yes he was. He was as big IF not bigger than Edison (depending on how you look at it).

Mind you they started off together but Edison was on a high horse when Tesla brought up his ideas to him. When ignored he went off on his own and became quite a success.

 

[lxskllr]

I think I read "Tesla: Man Out of Time" by Margaret Cheney and it was pretty good.

What a coincidence. I'm reading Tesla: Biography of a Genius by Marc Seifer. It's great so far.

Cool. I'll check 'em out :^)

 

[phucheneh]

To be honest, I don't. (Though I'm about to look up what you're referring to.)

Yeah they clearly don't like him (or enjoy getting page views). I'm probably biased/over critical, but oh well. I'll never get to meet either men and form a proper opinion.

I dunno what the cracked reference is to, but I think it's pretty widely known that he was a douche. He wasn't an inventor so much as he was in sales and marketing. Basically the Steve Jobs of his day.

IIRC, his only real 'invention' was a modified telegraph, which gave him the funds to open a lab and pay some dude to improve (not invent) the lightbulb.

 

[Printer Bandit]