Fleet Fire: Thomas Edison and the Pioneers of Theelectric REV Olution

Hard to put down, easy to follow. Provides the details we have been missing. Brings the history of electricity together, and gives each inventor his due recognition. Amazing to see the relationships.

LJ Davis makes this subject fun. You don't put this book down even if my favorite inventor Nicola Tesla doesn't make the top of his inventor's list. His witticism lends support to the facts and he adroitly ties separate events together to allow the reader to see the progression. Well done! As for the laying of the trans-Atlantic cable, who would suspect that each of the five (!) separate efforts would remain fresh and interesting, but they do in this telling. For the layperson who doesn't know much about electricity, here I raise my hand, this book begins at the beginning and makes each step clear. What a wealth of information is enclosed in this book--from the blacksmith's electric motor 40 years too early to the wonder of a dynamo accidently wired for running backwards, the history of electricity unfolds easily. I enjoyed the read immensely.

L.J. Davis' Fleet Fire tells of the interactions between various scientists and inventors who contributed to the discovery of electricity and the revolutionary changes instigated by its use. Little-known facts, anecdotes, and insights accompany these capsule features of inventors ranging from Ben Franklin to Thomas Davenport and Cyrus Field.

In a breezy, readable style reminiscent of James Burke's Connections, the author tells the story of the harnessing of electricity, from Benjamin Franklin's kite to Guglielmo Marconi and the beginnings of radio. Playing no national favorites, the book debunks some popular myths about Morse and Edison, and places developments in Britain and Europe in context with those in America.Morse and the development of landline telegraphy have their own 52-page chapter, and the story of Cyrus Field and the Atlantic Cable occupies a further 49 pages. Covering all aspects of the history of electricity, Fleet Fire is an entertaining and informative study. The book has endnotes, a bibliography, and, appropriately, a web-page listing of related material.

This is an eye-opening book, not only wonderfully entertaining but filled with fascinating details of one of the most important periods in scientific discovery. And much of it took place right here in America. This is a cast of characters you never knew but whose achievements we benefit from daily. I couldn't put it down. Much of the time as I turned the pages I kept thinking that with all the useless television we face daily and wondering why someone didn't think about telling these stories before since this book provides wonderful insights into these great modern scientific explorers, their inventions and their times. Hopefully, the talented and very humorous Mr. Davis has plans underway to write more books on the history of invention since this must-read leaves you wanting the history to go on and on like a great novel.