A Triumph of Genius: Edwin Land, Polaroid, and the Kodak Patent War

by Ronald K. Fierstein Narrated by Pete Larkin

Overview

This riveting biography from the American Bar Association visits the spectacular life of Edwin Land, breakthrough inventor. At the time of his death, he stood third on the list of our most prolific inventors, behind only Thomas Edison and one of Edison's colleagues. Land's most famous achievement was the creation of a revolutionary film-and-camera system that could produce a photographic print moments after the picture was taken.




In A Triumph of Genius, you'll learn details of Land's involvement over four decades with top-secret U.S. military intelligence efforts during World War II and through the Cold War in the service of seven American presidents. Additionally, you'll thrill to the compelling first-hand look at one of our nation's most important legal battles over intellectual property-Polaroid versus Kodak. The conflict led to an epic legal battle, a dramatic event for Land who, from the witness stand, personally starred in a compelling courtroom drama.

Editorial Reviews

Paul M. Janicke

A really wonderful book! This is a great adventure story. Fierstein brings the story to life in such a way that at the end, the reader actually senses the huge emotional strain that such a long, fierce, and persistent battle entailed for those participating in it.

Dr. Michael Pritchard

The book will appeal to photographic historians but will also have a wider resonance for those interested in business history, management theory, and the history of science.

From the Publisher

"Fierstein brings the story to life in such a way that at the end, the reader actually senses the huge emotional strain that such a long, fierce, and persistent battle entailed for those participating in it." ---Paul M. Janicke, HIPLA Professor of Law, University of Houston Law Center

From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY

"Fierstein brings the story to life in such a way that at the end, the reader actually senses the huge emotional strain that such a long, fierce, and persistent battle entailed for those participating in it." —Paul M. Janicke, HIPLA Professor of Law, University of Houston Law Center

APRIL 2015 - AudioFile

Narrator Pete Larkin provides a workmanlike narration of this biography of inventor Edwin Land, the founder of Polaroid. Some say Steve Jobs was the Land of his generation. It is well known that Jobs deeply admired this often reclusive creator of a film and camera system for early instant photography. Mirroring the text, Larkin delivers the facts without much feeling. The hows and whys of Land’s life are in much shorter supply than the facts. Perhaps the most irritating aspect of the book is its focus on the patent suit between Polaroid and Kodak, which involves lengthy accounts of court sessions, along with a too detailed timeline of actions taken over many months. Students of patent law and those who are fascinated with the history of photography will likely have an enjoyable listening experience. However, those outside of these niches may be in for a tough slog. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170460472
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	02/17/2015
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos