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The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World | 
 enlarge | Author: Randall E. Stross
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $8.73
You Save: $6.22 (42%)
New (26) Used (5) from $8.73
Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 158528
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4.9
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 1400047633
Dewey Decimal Number: 920
EAN: 9781400047635
ASIN: 1400047633
Publication Date: March 25, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20080725212931T
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Product Description
Thomas Edison’s greatest invention?
His own fame.
Starting with the first public demonstrations of the phonograph in 1878 and extending through the development of incandescent light and the first motion-picture cameras, Thomas Edison’s name became emblematic of all the wonder and promise of the emerging age of technological marvels. But this critical biography of the man who is arguably the most famous of all Americans provides a fuller view of Edison’s life and times–revealing not only how he worked, but how he managed his own fame, becoming the first great celebrity of the modern age.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 Fun / Interesting June 12, 2008
I did not realize how little I knew about Thomas Alva Edison - until reading this book. This is a good biography of Edison, but deals more about his rise to fame and how that whole process happened. The author weaved in and out of a good biography with some editorial tangents, but overall this is a good book.
Coming out of reading this book I really appreciate Edison, and realize that he should have stuck to inventing and left the leadership and management of his companies to people who were good and leadership and management. Classic micromanager who was not good at leading and managing. But, one heck of an inventor.
JVD
 Nobody Beats the Wiz! May 14, 2008
This enjoyable biography focuses on:
1.) Thomas Edison's various achievements as an inventor.
2.) How Edison's inventions led to an ostensible raise in the standard of living in the United States and eventually Europe.
3.) How Edison became and lived as a celebrity because of his achievements.
If you like reading about heroic producers of the industrial revolution, then I highly recommend adding this book to your reading list.
Even the anecdotes about Thomas Edison's (initial) failures are fun to read. For example, I particularly liked the story of how J.P. Morgan volunteered to have his study be one of the first rooms to be wired with electricity. Eager to bask in his latest highly anticipated investment, Morgan turned on the incandescent light next to his desk to do a little evening reading. Unfortunately for him, as he began to read, his study caught fire, eventually leading to his house suffering substantial damage.
Did J.P. Morgan divest himself of Thomas Edison? Absolutely not! He merely invited Thomas Edison over to witness the charred remains of his study and firmly inquired if he could install the wiring correctly the second time. Such was the earned reputation of Thomas Edison. J.P. Morgan knew he was investing in something big. Also, this story also revealed a great deal about his character. Instead of dwelling on his serious mistake, Thomas Edison focused on how he could rectify the situation and improve his invention. But I digress.
A great read!
perhaps more realistic view of Edison May 5, 2008
We all heard about Edison's story. However, most of them are probably more colorful version from the media. This book provides a more complete view.
Author Randall has done a thorough study from the preserved documents of Edison's lab as well as archived newspapers. The book is full of annotations with references at the end of the book. If there is any bias in this book, most likely it is because our minds have long been receiving Edison's prettier' side rather than all aspects of his life. We should welcome and applaud for any whisle blower and fact digger when media is trying to beautify his lesser admirable side.
Edison is an very good inventor, there is no need to model or sculpture him into a saint or an all time sage. He said it himself (hopefully, not another write up from the media) : "Invention is 1 percent of inspiration and 99 percent of perspiration".
Regardless of Edison's personality (if someone happens dislike it) or his serious misjudgement on business or other subject matters, he is, by all accounts, a very important figure in late 19th and early 20th century. While he is not the first person to invent light bulb, he is however, the person to light up the world.
I believe we all appreciate him one hundred percent. :-)
An Excellent Read About The World's Most Famous Inventor February 24, 2008
I totally enjoyed this book. The author keeps you turning pages as he provides interesting fact after fact about Thomas Edison and his life as the world's most famous inventor. Inside you will learn what made Edison tick and how he impacted the world around him including his family, employees and close friends. As a phonograph buff I particularly enjoyed reading about Edison's beliefs regarding musicians, music and the promotion and sale of phonographs and cylinders (records). The Wizard of Menlo Park is well researched and well written. The author obviously has experience taking readers on enlightening journeys. This book will find a permanent place on my home bookshelf.
An Edison Biography with a Different Twist December 9, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I've read a number of biographies and biographical sketches of Thomas A. Edison. Most of these concentrate on the man's inventive genius and often provide many interesting technical details on his inventions and on the related technical problems. However, this biography has a rather different twist: it focuses mainly on Edison the businessman and his many shortcomings in this aspect of his life. He is portrayed as a genius with an insatiable passion for laboratory work but desperately lacking the necessary flair for how to succeed in the business world. Edison's private life is briefly discussed, including his relationships with his wives and his sons. The writing style is clear, friendly and engaging, thus making this book difficult to put down. This book is quite successful in depicting the ways in which Edison's instincts were often seriously at odds with the public's way of thinking during these times of mind-boggling new technological innovations. This book can be enjoyed by anyone. But those with a passionate fascination for this period and its greater-than-life figures are in for a particular treat.
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