Reviews
The Electric War: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and the Race to Light the World by Mike Winchell
melindagallagher's review against another edition
4.0
A quick, easy read but I learned so much! A great book for our STEM book club.
nerfherder86's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent book about the three inventors and their battle to achieve control of the electricity market in the early days of the new form of power. Biographies of Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, and Nikola Tesla are interwoven with the story of the rise of electricity and the difference between AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current), which of the two types each man was a proponent of, and how they battled to push their method to the fore. The book begins with the graphic depiction of the very first use of the electric chair to execute a criminal, which is certain to grab the attention of reluctant teen readers! (There are also descriptions of experiments to electrocute animals, which could be disturbing for some readers. The writing style is kind of dramatic in some spots.) The book shows how Edison had started spreading rumors that AC was deadly and was perfect for killing people--because he wanted to sell more cities on using his system, DC, so he wanted AC to gain a horrible reputation. This was a fascinating look at the three men and the inventions they came up with--I learned a lot about Westinghouse that I hadn't known (air brakes for trains!) and Tesla (he was a brilliant man but lousy at business) as well as the culture of the times, including the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where there was intense competition to be the company that would light up the World's Fair with electricity for the first time. Whoever did that would prove once and for all that his system was here to stay. The book has a lengthy bibliography, but no sources for the direct quotations, and is illustrated with contemporary illustrations and photographs from the 1890's. I read this book shortly before going to see the movie "The Current War" in theaters, which is about the same rivalry, so it was quite fun to feel like an expert while watching, and I knew right away the couple of spots where the filmmakers took liberties with the facts in pursuit of a more dramatic retelling. (Usually when I see a biopic or other movie based on a real event, either I know nothing about the topic or only have a vague idea. This was almost like having this book come to life in front of me!)
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: The Sexy Men of Science
Drinking Buddy: Meet Me at the Club
Testosterone Level: I Got the Power
Talky Talk: The Gilded Age
Bonus Factors: Edison and Tesla
Bromance Status: Research Partner
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: The Sexy Men of Science
Drinking Buddy: Meet Me at the Club
Testosterone Level: I Got the Power
Talky Talk: The Gilded Age
Bonus Factors: Edison and Tesla
Bromance Status: Research Partner
Read the full book report here.
llax11's review against another edition
5.0
A very interesting, intriguing, and exciting read about the three main inventors of electricity. For being a nonfiction, it did not have any dry areas where I lost interest. I was full engaged throughout. What a fascinating story!
mrs_mazzola_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Wow! I had no idea that Edison was such a jerk. Very interesting and informative book, but felt just a tad too long. Recommended for middle school and up.
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