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The Idea Factory by Jon Gertner audiobook

The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation

By Jon Gertner
Read by Chris Sorensen

Recorded Books, Recorded Books, Inc.
17.48 Hours • Unabridged
Format : CD (In Stock)
  • 2 Formats: CD
  • 2 Formats: MP3 CD

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    ISBN: 9781664410565

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In The Idea Factory, New York Times Magazine writer Jon Gertner reveals how Bell Labs served as an incubator for scientific innovation from the 1920s through the 1980s. In its heyday, Bell Labs boasted nearly 15,000 employees, 1,200 of whom held PhDs and 13 of whom won Nobel Prizes. Thriving in a work environment that embraced new ideas, Bell Labs scientists introduced concepts that still propel many of today's most exciting technologies.

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Summary

Summary

In The Idea Factory, New York Times Magazine writer Jon Gertner reveals how Bell Labs served as an incubator for scientific innovation from the 1920s through the 1980s. In its heyday, Bell Labs boasted nearly 15,000 employees, 1,200 of whom held PhDs and 13 of whom won Nobel Prizes. Thriving in a work environment that embraced new ideas, Bell Labs scientists introduced concepts that still propel many of today's most exciting technologies.

Editorial Reviews

Editorial Reviews

“Riveting…Mr. Gertner’s portraits of Kelly and the cadre of talented scientists who worked at Bell Labs are animated by a journalistic ability to make their discoveries and inventions utterly comprehensible—indeed, thrilling—to the lay reader. And they showcase, too, his novelistic sense of character and intuitive understanding of the odd ways in which clashing or compatible personalities can combine to foster intensely creative collaborations.”  —New York Times 
“One of the best innovation-focused books I’ve read: It’s a wide-ranging, detailed, and deeply fascinating look at the New Jersey lab which has been churning out useful discoveries since the early 1900s.”  —Boston Globe
“Filled with colorful characters and inspiring lessons…The Idea Factory explores one of the most critical issues of our time: What causes innovation?”  —New York Times Book Review 
“Compelling…Gertner’s book offers fascinating evidence for those seeking to understand how a society should best invest its research resources.”  —Wall Street Journal
“The men of Bell Labs…are brought to life by Jon Gertner in The Idea Factory, his wonderful history of the most influential corporate-research lab the world has seen…Mr Gertner does a super job of making complex science intelligible to the lay reader. He frequently evokes a sense of awe at how this army of scientists made a reality of what even for them was often unthinkable.”  —Economist

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Author

Author Bio: Jon Gertner

Author Bio: Jon Gertner

Jon Gertner is a journalist and historian whose stories on science, technology, and nature have appeared in a host of national magazines. Since 2003 he has worked mainly as a feature writer for the New York Times Magazine. His first book, The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation, was a New York Times bestseller. He is a frequent lecturer on technology and science history.

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Details

Details

Available Formats : CD, MP3 CD
Runtime: 17.48
Audience: Adult
Language: English

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