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Thomas Edison: A Life From Beginning to End (Biographies of Business Leaders) Kindle Edition

by Hourly History (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 1,296 ratings

Thomas Edison


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Thomas Edison passed on many decades ago, but his inventions still echo loudly through time. If you watch TV, listen to your favorite songs, or simply click on the lamp next to your bed, it was Thomas Edison who brought all of these innovations into the world.

Inside you will read about...


✓ Edison's Early Life
✓ The Electric Light
✓ The War of the Currents
✓ Other Inventions and Projects
✓ Final Years and Death
✓ Edison's Legacy
And much more!

Edison is sometimes regarded as someone who loved arguing with other inventors who were going in different directions from him, yet his tenacity and dedication to his own work were what made so many of his inventions workable.
No matter which way you look at Edison, from failed businessman, renowned inventor, distant father to his children, or to an argumentative scientist, there is one thing everyone can agree on; Thomas Edison was pure genius. After all, in his world, nothing less would do.

Series Information: Biographies of Business Leaders Book 1
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  1. Part of series
    Biographies of Business Leaders
  2. Print length
    53 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    March 7, 2017
  5. File size
    1.4 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B06XGMZD27
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hourly History (March 7, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 7, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.4 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 53 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 1,296 ratings

About the author

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Hourly History

Hourly History

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At Hourly History, we publish history books that are concise, straightforward and take no longer than one hour to read.

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
1,296 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this biography to be a fine summary of Thomas Edison's life, highlighting his prolific nature as an inventor. The book is praised for being a quick read filled with information about his accomplishments. While some customers find it well written, others consider it not very well written. Customers appreciate its ease of use, with one noting it serves as an easy way to learn about history.

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26 customers mention "Biography"26 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate this biography of Thomas Edison, describing it as a fine summary of his life and career as a prolific inventor.

"...Thomas Edison, “The Wizard of Menlo Park,” was more than just a prolific inventor, he was a visionary, an innovative businessman...." Read more

"...Contains quite a few familiar facts, along with some historical contexy, and in a few places juxtaposing Edison's personal and professional life,..." Read more

"...I especially enjoyed the last stage which accurately portrayed Edison’s personality. It was exactly the type of information I wanted." Read more

"...You’ll get a good dose of perspective in this short, enjoyable biography." Read more

26 customers mention "Readability"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, describing it as a delightful and quick read filled with information, with one customer noting that the story is told objectively.

"...What I love most about these books is that they tell the reader everything he or she needs to know about the subject in a Reader’s Digest Condensed..." Read more

"...overview of Edison's life, career, and inventions, taking the time to note early experiences, and jobs that influenced later inventions...." Read more

"...All stages were concise and told the events as they unfolded. I especially enjoyed the last stage which accurately portrayed Edison’s personality...." Read more

"An easy, quick read by one of the most interesting inventors and businessmen of the 19th Century...." Read more

23 customers mention "Information quality"19 positive4 negative

Customers find the book provides good information, with one customer noting it is very well documented.

"...No fluff! Just the facts!..." Read more

"...Contains quite a few familiar facts, along with some historical contexy, and in a few places juxtaposing Edison's personal and professional life,..." Read more

"I enjoyed the informative read." Read more

"...This is a decent introduction to Edison for those who do not know much about the man and his accomplishments. Four stars." Read more

9 customers mention "Ease of use"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to use and quick to read, with one customer noting that all stages are concise.

"A quick ( roughly 1 hour) read that provides and overview of Edison's life, career, and inventions, taking the time to note early experiences, and..." Read more

"I very much enjoyed the different stages of the book. All stages were concise and told the events as they unfolded...." Read more

"An easy, quick read by one of the most interesting inventors and businessmen of the 19th Century...." Read more

"...promised, you will receive a history of Edison and be able to complete the book within an hour...." Read more

10 customers mention "Writing quality"5 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some finding it well written and easy to read, while others disagree.

"Enjoyed reading greatly, such an easy read and captivating. I learned much about his life I never knew...." Read more

"...is awkward, repetitive and does not really flow - making for a difficult read. STILL: an amazing - albeit irascible,flawed and stubborn - man." Read more

"...interesting and exciting as other hourly history books but, still well written...." Read more

"...has the basic facts about Edison's accomplishments, but the writing is discordant, as if it was created using AI...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • JWalch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thomas Edison, the iconic inventor
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Like all the Hourly History Series books, this is a quick read, 50 pages. Calling this series of books the Hourly History Series is fitting because the average reader can read each volume in about an hours’ time. What I love most about these books is that they tell the reader everything he or she needs to know about the subject in a Reader’s Digest Condensed Book’s style. No fluff! Just the facts!
     
    Ask almost anyone, even an elementary school’s student, who Thomas Edison was and they’ll tell you he was the man who invented the light bulb. Of course they would all be wrong. There had been many light bulbs invented before Edison’s, by many inventors. Edison is called its inventor when all he did was improve on earlier designs and made it practical as a light source.

     Thomas Alva Edison has become the world’s most renown inventor. In his lifetime, he laid claim to 2, 332 patents, a feat that no one has ever even come close to repeating. He led the way with many inventions like the record player, the motion picture camera and projector, the fluoroscope, the stock ticker, and the improved telephone transmitter, to name just a few. He was was the world’s most prolific inventor.

     Thomas Edison, “The Wizard of Menlo Park,” was more than just a prolific inventor, he was a visionary, an innovative businessman. First off, he applied the principles of mass production to his laboratories. He assigned different aspects of the research involved to each of his assistant, thus speeding up the entire process, producing one innovative invention after another. Unlike many brilliant inventors of the times, he was also a brilliant businessman who marketed those inventions.

     Although never rich himself, he knew and was friends with many of the rich and famous of his day. Do you want to know more about what made the Wizard of Menlo Park tick? Read this exceptional little book.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Goddess of Chaos
    4.0 out of 5 stars Edison - Inventor and Innovator
    Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A quick ( roughly 1 hour) read that provides and overview of Edison's life, career, and inventions, taking the time to note early experiences, and jobs that influenced later inventions.

    Contains quite a few familiar facts, along with some historical contexy, and in a few places juxtaposing Edison's personal and professional life, and includes some interesting tidbits:
    "When George Eastman came up with celluloid film, Edison used it to improve on his motion picture camera. The films were cut into strips with perforated edges; creating the iconic shape that most of us picture when we think about a film roll."
    One person found this helpful
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  • Cynthia S. Morman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent synopsis
    Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I very much enjoyed the different stages of the book. All stages were concise and told the events as they unfolded. I especially enjoyed the last stage which accurately portrayed Edison’s personality. It was exactly the type of information I wanted.
    Helpful
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  • Ed Barton
    4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant And Complex
    Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    An easy, quick read by one of the most interesting inventors and businessmen of the 19th Century. Edison was not exceptional at either individually, but managed to market and position himself so that 90 years after his death, almost every American knows his name and his “invention” of the light bulb. You’ll get a good dose of perspective in this short, enjoyable biography.
    Helpful
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  • Bevan
    3.0 out of 5 stars Fair
    Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is a fair rendition of a fascinating man's life - but it's in need of a good editor.
    The telling is awkward, repetitive and does not really flow - making for a difficult read.
    STILL: an amazing - albeit irascible,flawed and stubborn - man.
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  • Nancy V.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Legend
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed the informative read.
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  • Dee Arr
    4.0 out of 5 stars Edison Lit Up the World
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This hour or less read on Thomas Edison is one of the better offerings from Hourly History. As promised, you will receive a history of Edison and be able to complete the book within an hour. This is a pretty good overview, with all of Edison's major inventions mentioned. The book also touches on his family life, and it was fairly interesting at the end when the book discusses Edison's approach to inventing and how he put inventing ad business together, creating multiple companies in the process. This is a decent introduction to Edison for those who do not know much about the man and his accomplishments. Four stars.
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  • Jim Spencer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inventor, visionary - "No man is an Island"
    Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Growing up in the era that I did, Thomas Edison was very much a common subject, even though he had passed on some years earlier. Part of my name is named after this great man, and I am proud that my father chose him. Thomas Edison the book, short as it is, is a very nice overview of this man who would be such an integral part of bringing the world into modern times, modern ideas and the ability to move society forward. I love history as many people do, and am constantly amazed at where we came from and where we are headed to. This book highlights one of the things I most admired of Thomas Edison; the fact that money was secondary to each endeavor and how he was intimately involved in each one, and that he was there from beginning to end whether it succeeded or failed. Visionary is an understatement as he could visualize the task before him in such clear detail. Now having read this book I am going to find a way to visit the site where so much was done.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • libellule
    2.0 out of 5 stars non respect
    Reviewed in France on July 12, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    j'avais commandée ce livre en paquet cadeau et je n'ai eu que le livre, pour offrir pas top, pas sympa merci
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  • Marcos Okida
    5.0 out of 5 stars Esclarecedor
    Reviewed in Brazil on May 25, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Novamente mais um livro sucinto e objetivo desta série. Interessante o fato de que desde o início o autor deixa claro que não foi Edison que inventou a lâmpada de filamento, mas somente a aperfeiçou. Deu também destaque a ele como empreendedor e como uma pessoa que sempre trabalhou duro até seu último dia.
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  • Manzar Bashir
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brief and crisp
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    A good read. A pretty brief and crisp one. Sheds light on him not only as an inventor and innovator but also as a person. His interaction with Nikola Tesla is pretty insightful. He was a great inventor but in the end like all humans he had some shortcomings
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  • Bryan P.
    5.0 out of 5 stars So interesting. First hook I've finished in a long time. Thanks.
    Reviewed in Canada on May 21, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    First book I've finished in a long time. I was amazed to hear all the facts and history of Thomas Edison.
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  • Darshan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thomas alva Edison
    Reviewed in India on January 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    In GE research center, Bangalore when i worked between 2009 and 2013 there use to be this saying posted at places " Edison lit up the world, let's do our bit to keep the lights glowing ". This short summary book informed me about things i dint know in its completeness. Edison is probably the best self taught, practical scientist the world has ever seen! You really dont want fancy degrees to become a world class inventer or innovator. This is a beacon for generations of scientists, engineers and creative minds yet to come...
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