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My Inventions: The Autobiography of Nikola Tesla
by
Nikola Tesla
"The progressive development of man is virtually dependent on invention. It is the most important product of his creative brain." Nikola Tesla, uncelebrated oracle of the electronic age without whom our telephone, radio, automobile ignition, and television would have been unrealized, was born in Croatia in 1856. He studied physics and mathematics at Graz Poly Tech, then ph
...more
Kindle Edition
,
68 pages
Published
October 11th 2011
(first published October 1st 1982)
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Community Reviews
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3,000)
May 04, 2015
Ash
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone - to know more about Tesla
Great book about one of the greatest inventors of all time. Sadly this book is "too" small and he just gives us a very brief glimpse of his inventions and ideas.
I did not know many things about him before reading this book like: Tesla was involved in wireless research, Marconi actually stole the Radio idea from Tesla. I always related Tesla with alternating current and did not know that he was into wireless as well.
I also liked that his main intention for inventing something was not to get appl ...more
I did not know many things about him before reading this book like: Tesla was involved in wireless research, Marconi actually stole the Radio idea from Tesla. I always related Tesla with alternating current and did not know that he was into wireless as well.
I also liked that his main intention for inventing something was not to get appl ...more
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What a bizarre little book. Tesla has always seemed to me someone who existed in a space between our world and another unfathomable place, brought here by a glitch in dimensions or something. This loose memoir confirms my suspicions :). And not only because of passages like this: "I had a brother who was gifted to an extraordinary degree; one of those rare phenomena of mentality which biological investigation has failed to explain. His premature death left my earth parents disconsolate." No, it'
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The man doesn't age! There are photos of him from about 18 to 66 and he looks the exact same! He could also design, build and test machines inside his head -- if a single part was out of balance he would know before he ever put it together. Plus he masters the forces of the universe, created wireless electricity and speaks to you in that crazed early 20th century mad professor talk.
"Današnji znanstvenici misle duboko, a ne jasno. Potrebno je imati zdravu pamet da se misli jasno, ali moguće je misliti duboko i biti posve lud." (N. Tesla, 1934.)
Dec 09, 2009
Jerry Travis
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone
Shelves:
history
This has been very, very interesting. A book written by an undisputed genius in his very own words.
I must say this book was a surprise. I was expecting lots of technical detail, but instead the book was filled with lots of interesting stories and insightful social comment. Some of the stories were even hilarious, causing me to laugh out loud a number of times.
The book also gives some insight into what it's like to be a genius, and some of the abilities such a person possesses. For instance, draw ...more
I must say this book was a surprise. I was expecting lots of technical detail, but instead the book was filled with lots of interesting stories and insightful social comment. Some of the stories were even hilarious, causing me to laugh out loud a number of times.
The book also gives some insight into what it's like to be a genius, and some of the abilities such a person possesses. For instance, draw ...more
Apr 09, 2007
Otis Chandler
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
engineers, inventors, artists
Read this on Graham's recommendation, and it was *fascinating* to hear it from the man himself. Tesla was famous for inventing alternating current (AC), which is used in every house and electric motor today. He was a famous scientist of his time, and supposedly there was some rift with him and Edison. It appears actually that Tesla sold his patents and the company that bought them sued everyone else, causing his name to be associated with the suits, even though he wasn't really involved. Tesla i
...more
A few great essays and a quick read. The stories from his youth were laugh-out-loud funny. His relationships with his mother and father are touching and enlightening, and the first part of the book describes very charmingly and accessibly how to create a thoughtful, strong, productive character. The introduction by Ben Johnston very helpfully dispels some of the common mythology about Tesla with very specific information about how it was created.
"The pressure of occupation and the incessant str ...more
"The pressure of occupation and the incessant str ...more
I decided to flip through the pages of My Inventions after my dad enthusiastically described how engineers at McMaster university, following Tesla’s principles, had powered a fan using electricity that was transmitted wirelessly from one mini tower to another.
Lacking a technical background, I didn’t think the book would capture my interest; but I was hooked from the very first page. Not only does Tesla share some unique observations of the world and his mind, such as his self-preserving device a ...more
Lacking a technical background, I didn’t think the book would capture my interest; but I was hooked from the very first page. Not only does Tesla share some unique observations of the world and his mind, such as his self-preserving device a ...more
MY INVENTIONS: The Autobiography of Nicola Tesla. (1919; this ed. 1982). Nicola Tesla. ***.
Of the various accomplishments that Tesla could brag about, writing would certainly not be one of them. This “autobiography” is a collation of six articles that Tesla wrote for the magazine, “Electrical Experimenter” in 1919. He traces his life from his early days in Croatia, where he was born and raised, to his achievements in the world of electrical inventions. The things that he reveals in the early ch ...more
Of the various accomplishments that Tesla could brag about, writing would certainly not be one of them. This “autobiography” is a collation of six articles that Tesla wrote for the magazine, “Electrical Experimenter” in 1919. He traces his life from his early days in Croatia, where he was born and raised, to his achievements in the world of electrical inventions. The things that he reveals in the early ch ...more
I read this book three times. Although its a bit disorganized and despite the fact that it is a very brief autobiography, it remains to be one of the best autobiographies I have read. I don't think anyone who reads Tesla's autobiography wouldn't be fascinated by him. His character, his genius, and most of all, his hard work that lead to many of the advancements we see today. Tesla was one of the visionaries of the 19th and 20th century, yet so many people never heard about him.
The 'book' is ver ...more
The 'book' is ver ...more
This man was absolutely brilliant, obviously, but what I didn't know was that he was also pretty funny! I laughed quite a few times while reading this, only at a few very subtle lines of humor. I loved being able to see how he views his own life. I love that he cared NOTHING whatsoever about his fame or fortune, and only cared about the betterment of society. He did it all for US, the future. He handed over his patents without hesitation, although there is no mention of the business side in thes
...more
A fascinating read. I knew very little about Tesla except for the public facts that most know. He was possessed of an idetic memory, like several geniuses. He was prone to long bouts of illnesses early that came close to ending his life several times. In his youth his mind would project images into the space around him so he had difficulty distinguishing the projections from reality. He later could visualize so well that he had no need to build working models for his inventions. Things always wo
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This book was very well written. You get a pretty good idea of the curiosities of how Tesla was. He goes into interesting detail of how he invented things and his methodology concerning his creative process. He even describes with great detail how he first started training his imagination as a child and ended up visualizing things with remarkable accuracy. This book doesn't really go into equations and complicated engineering but is more about how Tesla came to be the timeless inventor of his ag
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Really interesting to read about his life through his own eyes, although I got terribly lost in the last two chapters when he stopped talking about himself and more about his inventions. Indeed he said at one point "This was perfectly self-evident, but came as a revelation to some simple-minded wireless folks" which definitely made me feel stupid because I had no idea what he was talking about at this point. But, if you want an insight into a genius mind, or if you want to make yourself feel bet
...more
I highly recommend this brief (58-page) text that gives an interesting perspective on Tesla's life. He discusses his odd sensory experiences in his childhood and youth, his inventions, and his political beliefs (on the upcoming war, the power of wireless communication for world peace, and the relationship between God and interracial relations). I am more impressed than ever with this man who was no doubt far before his time. I do not rate this five stars only because it is so short that it leave
...more
Umm...I think I'm in LOVE with a dead guy! Seriously, Nikola Tesla is a pure genius and his intelligence far surpasses that of Einstein.
I wish he would have written a book earlier on and since this was written in his late sixties and is very short, readers are left wanting more. Among many other astounding inventions, including building an AC motor, he came up with the concept of wireless communication in the 1890's!!!
I was heartbroken when I read he died alone in a hotel room in poverty due t ...more
I wish he would have written a book earlier on and since this was written in his late sixties and is very short, readers are left wanting more. Among many other astounding inventions, including building an AC motor, he came up with the concept of wireless communication in the 1890's!!!
I was heartbroken when I read he died alone in a hotel room in poverty due t ...more
It seems to me as if Tesla was a pretty funny guy, and a bit nutty. Reading his autobiography, I get the feeling that, at the turn of the century (19th-20th), some decisions were made (by whom?) regarding energy sources that have us where we are now, and that, if Tesla and certain others(?) had had more of a say, we would be living in a much different world. Maybe we would have arrived here (or at a semblance of it) even earlier (1950, throwing out a random year). Maybe I'm succumbing to paranoi
...more
But instinct is something which transcends knowledge. We have, undoubtedly, certain finer fibbers that enable us to perceive truths when logical deduction, or any other willful effort of the brain, is futile.
It is difficult to appreciate what those strange phenomena meant at the time. We crave for new sensations, but soon become indifferent to them. The wonders of yesterday are today common occurrences.
But while I have not lost faith in its potentialities, my views have changed since. War can no ...more
It is difficult to appreciate what those strange phenomena meant at the time. We crave for new sensations, but soon become indifferent to them. The wonders of yesterday are today common occurrences.
But while I have not lost faith in its potentialities, my views have changed since. War can no ...more
Un libro interessante, ma che non aiuta a far luce sul mistero del genio di questo eccezionale pesonaggio
Aneddoti si mescolano con spiegazioni scientifiche, con un filo logico spesso difficile da seguire.
Ci sono particolari interessanti che fanno capire come la mente di Tesla funzionasse in modo totalmente diverso da quello di persone più ordinarie, ma questo contribuisce solo ad aggiungere un che di mistico al personaggio, senza indagarne motivazioni, capacità e percorsi.
Le digressioni politich ...more
Aneddoti si mescolano con spiegazioni scientifiche, con un filo logico spesso difficile da seguire.
Ci sono particolari interessanti che fanno capire come la mente di Tesla funzionasse in modo totalmente diverso da quello di persone più ordinarie, ma questo contribuisce solo ad aggiungere un che di mistico al personaggio, senza indagarne motivazioni, capacità e percorsi.
Le digressioni politich ...more
This is a book I read because my husband love Nikola Tesla and we are reading a book of his papers together and I wanted to know more about him. Tesla was born in in the village of Smiljan, Vojna Krajina, in the territory of today's Croatia. By birth he was an ethnic Serb, a subject of the Austrian Empire and later in life became an American Citizen. He was a genius inventor and mechanical and electrical engineer. He is frequently cited as one of the most important contributors to the birth of c
...more
A brief window into the mind of a genius. This is an awesome read if you ever feel worried about making your mark on the wold. He never mentions worrying about where the money will come from or trying to market his ideas, he just created tirelessly.
Sep 14, 2014
E.D.E. Bell
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
autobiography
,
science
The book itself is hard to rate, as its a compilation of articles rather than a true autobiography, and so has an often unsatisfying flow. But the ability to read Nikola's own words is a true treasure. Hence my 5. This is an amazing read - a tremendous insight into one of the greatest minds of modern history.
It's quirky, short, and includes gems like a description of his campaign for a "World System" (including an accurate description of the web and GPS) in 1900. Amazing. It also includes some f ...more
It's quirky, short, and includes gems like a description of his campaign for a "World System" (including an accurate description of the web and GPS) in 1900. Amazing. It also includes some f ...more
Although I live in Arizona, I am at heart still a Georgia boy....my father once described someone as "...crazy as a s---house rat..." That would be a accurate description of Tesla. This book is the embodiment of two things: 1. That there is a fine line between genius and crazy and sometimes they look and sound the same. 2. That autobiographies can be very self serving. Now the first half of the book was very interesting with vivid personal accounts of the young Tesla but the second half was dens
...more
Oct 09, 2014
Josh
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction
,
psychology
A great insight to a true genius mind. The way his brain worked was clearly unique. It is sad that there are very few Nikola Teslas in the world.
Jul 14, 2015
Suvash Thapaliya
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-2015
,
biographies
Definitely the most interesting and bizzare autobiography I've read.
However brilliant, Tesla was an inventor. Not a writer.
Nikola Tesla is undoubtedly, but unfortunately not the undisputed, 'Father of Modern era'.
He discovered the magnetic field and the transformer.
He invented the Tesla coil.
He discovered the Alternating current.
He was the first one to invent a radio.
His contribution to the world of Science was immense. The book throws light on the early days of Tesla, his life as an assistant to Thomas Edison etc. However, his ethics is still questioned by the science enthusiasts. The book says that he was a visio ...more
He discovered the magnetic field and the transformer.
He invented the Tesla coil.
He discovered the Alternating current.
He was the first one to invent a radio.
His contribution to the world of Science was immense. The book throws light on the early days of Tesla, his life as an assistant to Thomas Edison etc. However, his ethics is still questioned by the science enthusiasts. The book says that he was a visio ...more
This is not a traditional autobiography. Much of it is culled from separate articles that Tesla wrote more to feed the publicity machine of the time than as considered self assessments. There is not much historical context, plotting a life in the usual ABC fashion or weighing of fact vs. fiction that gives traditional biographies their heft. What is left in this slim volume is more of a mold than a statue—the assumed perception of his own greatness vs. building a case brick by brick of proving i
...more
Jan 07, 2015
Nikki Vanderhoof
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-i-own
,
2014-faves
,
historical
,
memoir-bio-autobio
,
non-fiction
,
not-for-everyone
,
recommended
,
science
,
self-help
,
textbooks
,
would-recommend-to-me
Nikola Tesla is one of my history crushes. I'm a huge science nerd and anything about Tesla is entertaining to me given he was the father of so many inventions that we still utilize today. Thomas Edison may get more fanfare than neurotic, eccentric and phobic Nik, but Nikola was truly the individual who pioneered so many of the electrical items that we use today. Thomas Edison just "commercialized" them more, so he got more wide-spread approval.
I will warn you that these are the autobiographica ...more
I will warn you that these are the autobiographica ...more
It may seem odd to rate a little known, not especially well written small biography this highly, but I try to assign my ratings based on the impact the book had on me when I read it. I was not particularly a Nikolaphile 20 years ago when I first found the text of this on some Web (or was it Gopher?) site. What I was though, was a long time, diligent, and dedicated student of the philosophy/work of G. Gurdjieff and his followers.
It was in that mindset that I discovered in this manuscript, a man ...more
It was in that mindset that I discovered in this manuscript, a man ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Which edition of this book would you recommend, and why? | 2 | 9 | Oct 31, 2012 07:08AM |
Nikola Tesla was a genius polymath, inventor and a mechanical and electrical engineer. He is frequently cited as one of the most important contributors to the birth of commercial electricity, a man who "shed light over the face of Earth," and is best known for his many revolutionary developments in the field of electricity and magnetism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tesla's patents an
...more
More about Nikola Tesla...
“We crave for new sensations but soon become indifferent to them. The wonders of yesterday are today common occurrences”
—
97 likes
“Invention is the most important product of man's creative brain. The ultimate purpose is the complete mastery of mind over the material world, the harnessing of human nature to human needs.”
—
94 likes
More quotes…
