Library Journal
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More a reference book than a biography, this title seeks to uncover the mysteries surrounding the life and work of Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) and to unveil the truth behind related myths. Full of pictures of everything and everyone, from machines to celebrities and inventors (who were celebrities in the era), this book is beautiful. The title is sectioned into somewhat chronological order with breakout explanations, such as information on the creator of the AC motor or the first person to send a wireless signal. Myths under consideration range from Tesla's sexuality to the role of J.P. Morgan in the innovator's wireless endeavors. Tesla, his contemporaries, and his works are depicted in illustrations accompanied by accessible detail. This book, enjoyable in short bursts or when read cover to cover, will be easily understood by nonengineers. VERDICT Tesla is an enigmatic figure whose life and achievements appeal to historians, engineers, scientists, and many others, and this volume will touch them all in different ways. Everyone from new readers to Tesla historians are sure to find something of interest here.-Dawn Lowe-Wincentsen, Oregon Inst. of Technology, Portland © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Choice
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

Cooper (energy policy consultant) acknowledges his debt to more comprehensive and scholarly Tesla biographies. In particular, Cooper frequently cites both Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age by W. Bernard Carlson (CH, Oct'13, 51-0847) and Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla: Biography of a Genius by Marc J. Seifer (CH, May'97, 34-5057) in his endnotes, and Seifer has written the foreword to Cooper's work. The allegory of the solitary inventor seems entrenched in the American psyche. A natural showman, Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) cultivated this image throughout his lifetime. Cooper, a lawyer by training, presents arguments for prior art (and Tesla's knowledge of these other inventors and their innovations) on key Tesla patents, including the polyphase alternating current motor, the Tesla coil, and the wireless transmission of electrical energy. The book relates basic concepts of electricity and electrical technology in clear language, and many sidebars provide useful supplementary information. The book's production values (large type and large format; high-quality, full-color illustrations throughout; glossy paper stock; and a "centerfold"-type time line) will engage many readers. Scholars and researchers should seek out the works of Carlson and Seifer, but Cooper's volume fills a niche for general audiences. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers. --Scott Alan Curtis, University of Missouri--Kansas City