Don Mangus' "It Only Hurts When I Smirk.": David J. Kent

Monday, July 30, 2018

On the Reading Table: "Tesla: The Wizard of Electricty" by David J. Kent

Nikola Tesla

I'm reading the "companion volume" to the "Thomas A. Edison: Inventor of the Modern World" biography.

From its author, David J. Kent:

“This book is designed to appeal to general readers with a wide range of interests.

Like thrilling personality insights? The book is chock full of interesting stories on Tesla from his '100-bug-powered' windmills as a youth to his practical jokes on Mark Twain in his heyday to his dispute with Albert Einstein as he entered his twilight years.

Into graphic novels? 'Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity' includes many historical comics and photos to spotlight key events and figures in Tesla's spectacular life. The book is an amazing visual experience.

An invention buff? The book captures the prolific inventive mind of Nikola Tesla and how many of his inventions were so far ahead of their time that we are still today relying on his patents for new discoveries.

Turned on by conflict and tension? Tesla's life can be summed up by one of my chapter titles -- 'A Man Always at War.' Delve into the complex relationships he had with Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, Guglielmo Marconi, J. P. Morgan, and others that were sometimes colleagues, and sometimes rivals.

Prefer serious historical biography? 'Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity' traces the great man's life from his childhood in the military frontier, through his schooling and employment in the grand capitals of Europe, to his tumultuous, yet most productive, years in New York City, Colorado Springs, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Niagara Falls.

In short, the book provides insights into a man who has been largely ignored by history despite his huge contributions to modern life. A man who over 100 years ago anticipated that one day we would all be carrying around hand-held devices capable of instant communication across vast distances. Who a century ago promoted and developed renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels. A man who left us a legacy that is just now being rediscovered by scientists, the public, and perhaps most ironically -- pop culture."

David J. Kent is the author of two books on Nikola Tesla -- "Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity" and an e-book, "Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of its Time."

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Thomas A. Edison: Poured Concrete House Pioneer

Thomas A. Edison

At 303 North Mountain Avenue in Montclair, New Jersey, there stands a very solid relic to Thomas Edison’s past -- a poured concrete house that was a prototype for what Edison hoped to be the future of urban and suburban development.

One of only a handful of Edison’s original concrete houses in existence today, 303 North Mountain stands gloriously modern in its concrete design, but is in fact one of Montclair’s antique homes. Thomas Brennan, an actor and director, boasts it as his own and describes it like a piece of art, rather than a structure.

Thomas A. Edison

Speaking of reading the backlog, I’m now reading a compelling bio of Thomas A. Edison, a 2017 Christmas gift.

This is a nifty format indeed — filled with great graphics — it's somewhere between the classic “young adult” reader’s biography of yore and a graphic novel of today. It’s a whole lot of fun to read. Bonus — it has old comic book pages reproduced and vintage editorial cartoons by R. F. Outcault.

By David J Kenton

This book is designed to appeal to a wide range of readers who want to learn things about Edison not told in other biographies. Packed with colorful and rare illustrations, “Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World” is visually stunning and the writing is light and easy.

Beginning with his upbringing in Milan, Ohio, and Port Huron, Michigan, the book explores how the insatiable curiosity of "Little Al" made his father wonder if he was a bit dimwitted and led his first teacher to call him "addled." Self-teaching through experiment and reading, young Edison quickly shows his inventiveness and business acumen, leaving his doubters well behind at an early age.

Chapters examine his teen years while the Civil War raged, his early improvements to telegraphs, and his contributions to the art of invention. Edison, now called "Tom," rises to celebrity status with the telephone and telegraph, explores the world in his efforts to build a better light bulb, and fights the intriguing War of the Currents against rivals Westinghouse and Tesla. Along the way he acquires two wives, six children, and friendships with some of the greatest names in business history.

Not slowing down as he aged, Edison becomes a movie mogul, an iron ore magnate, builds houses out of concrete, becomes a botanical rubber expert, writes notes for a science fiction novel, and accomplishes much, much more before passing away in his sleep at the ripe old age of 84.

“Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World” tells the story of a man who has left a legacy that few can hope to equal. He was a great deal more than people know, perhaps in both good and bad ways. All are laid out in easy to read language and with spectacular photos, cartoons, and drawings in a format that blends the best of vivid writing with a graphical novel feel.

I am the author of this book. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. See also my earlier book, “Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity.”

Thomas A. Edison