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    The Wizard of Menlo Park

    How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World

    Author Randall E. Stross
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    Paperback
    $22.00 US
    Crown
    On sale Mar 25, 2008 | 400 Pages | 9781400047635
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    At the height of his fame Thomas Alva Edison was hailed as “the Napoleon of invention” and blazed in the public imagination as a virtual demigod. Newspapers proclaimed his genius in glowing personal profiles and quipped that “the doctor has been called” because the great man “has not invented anything since breakfast.” Starting with the first public demonstrations of the phonograph in 1878 and extending through the development of incandescent light, Edison’s name became emblematic of all the wonder and promise of the emerging age of technological marvels.

    Randall E. Strauss's bold reassessment of Edison’s life tells the story of how he came upon his most famous inventions as a young man and spent the remainder of his long life trying to conjure similar success. Strauss also introduces us to Edison's partners and competitors, presidents and entertainers, his close friend Henry Ford, the wives who competed with his work for his attention, and the children who tried to thrive in his shadow--all providing a fuller view of Edison’s life and times than has ever been offered before.

    Praise for THE WIZARD OF MENLO PARK:

    “Reading THE WIZARD OF MENLO PARK was a stark reminder of how much we owe Thomas Edison. Historian Randy Stross deserves high praise for bringing the great innovator’s multi-faceted career into keen focus. This is a truly remarkable book.”
    --Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History at Tulane University and author of WHEELS FOR THE WORLD: HENRY FORD, HIS COMPANY AND A CENTURY OF PROGRESS
    © Gene Cohn
    Randall E. Stross writes the Digital Domain column for the New York Times and is a professor of business at San Jose State University. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including eBoys, Planet Google, and The Wizard of Menlo Park. He has a Ph.D. in history from Stanford University.  View titles by Randall E. Stross
    “In The Wizard of Menlo Park, [Stross] makes a fascinating and altogether contemporary contribution to our understanding of an iconic American figure.”
    –Los Angeles Times

    “Randall Stross once again reveals a keen eye for the hidden details and forgotten nuances in the lives of great men. His re-creation of the life and achievements of Thomas Edison will become the standard reference to which all historians will turn for years to come. And yet the book is written with a flair for observation that reads more like a great mystery novel than your standard biography. A must-read!”
    –Roderick Kramer, William R. Kimball Professor of Organizational Behavior, Stanford Business School, Stanford University

    About

    At the height of his fame Thomas Alva Edison was hailed as “the Napoleon of invention” and blazed in the public imagination as a virtual demigod. Newspapers proclaimed his genius in glowing personal profiles and quipped that “the doctor has been called” because the great man “has not invented anything since breakfast.” Starting with the first public demonstrations of the phonograph in 1878 and extending through the development of incandescent light, Edison’s name became emblematic of all the wonder and promise of the emerging age of technological marvels.

    Randall E. Strauss's bold reassessment of Edison’s life tells the story of how he came upon his most famous inventions as a young man and spent the remainder of his long life trying to conjure similar success. Strauss also introduces us to Edison's partners and competitors, presidents and entertainers, his close friend Henry Ford, the wives who competed with his work for his attention, and the children who tried to thrive in his shadow--all providing a fuller view of Edison’s life and times than has ever been offered before.

    Praise for THE WIZARD OF MENLO PARK:

    “Reading THE WIZARD OF MENLO PARK was a stark reminder of how much we owe Thomas Edison. Historian Randy Stross deserves high praise for bringing the great innovator’s multi-faceted career into keen focus. This is a truly remarkable book.”
    --Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History at Tulane University and author of WHEELS FOR THE WORLD: HENRY FORD, HIS COMPANY AND A CENTURY OF PROGRESS

    Author

    © Gene Cohn
    Randall E. Stross writes the Digital Domain column for the New York Times and is a professor of business at San Jose State University. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including eBoys, Planet Google, and The Wizard of Menlo Park. He has a Ph.D. in history from Stanford University.  View titles by Randall E. Stross

    Praise

    “In The Wizard of Menlo Park, [Stross] makes a fascinating and altogether contemporary contribution to our understanding of an iconic American figure.”
    –Los Angeles Times

    “Randall Stross once again reveals a keen eye for the hidden details and forgotten nuances in the lives of great men. His re-creation of the life and achievements of Thomas Edison will become the standard reference to which all historians will turn for years to come. And yet the book is written with a flair for observation that reads more like a great mystery novel than your standard biography. A must-read!”
    –Roderick Kramer, William R. Kimball Professor of Organizational Behavior, Stanford Business School, Stanford University

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