Nikola Tesla: Physicist, Inventor, Electrical Engineer

Children's Literature - Sharon Oliver

Here is a thorough and readable biography of the great inventor, if not the most exciting version of the Tesla story. A brief opening chapter presents the highlights of Tesla's life and career. The following seventy pages follow Tesla from his birth in Austrian Croatia in 1856 through his varied educational pursuits to his emigration to the United States and his career as an inventor. The inventor's prickly relationship with Thomas Edison is discussed, from his initial employment by Edison to, later, becoming a direct competitor of the great inventor. Tesla worked for years at his goal of producing a workable AC generator and motor, and he was a major player in the battle for the electrical delivery market. Since his AC invention ultimately proved to be a better format than Edison's DC delivery system, Tesla's place is firmly set in the history of technology, although it was not fully recognized at the time. Other inventors who received credit for inventions based on Tesla's work (e.g., Marconi for his work with wireless radio) used many of Tesla's inventions and patents. As a result, Tesla spent the latter part of his life suing other inventors for patent infringements. Sidebars and photographs contribute nicely to the content. The book provides a timeline for Tesla's life and a list of additional resources, including web sites and historical sites. A glossary, an index and copious source notes are also provided. This is a more than serviceable volume for upper elementary and middle school libraries as well as public library collections. Part of the "Signature Lives" series. Reviewer: Sharon Oliver