03/09/2015
Edwin Land (1909–1991), founder of Polaroid Corp. and inventor of instant photography, was at the center of one of the most important technology-related legal battles in U.S. history. According to this dense book about Land's life, which was punctuated by Polaroid's patent war with Kodak, the idea for a camera capable of producing pictures within seconds of being taken came to Land in 1943 when his young daughter expressed disappointment at waiting for images to be developed. During a period of significant experimentation, Polaroid partnered with Eastman Kodak Company to produce film for its cameras. The friendly rivalry continued for years but slowly eroded as Polaroid's instant photography cameras gained greater commercial success. When Kodak entered the instant photography market in 1976, Polaroid sued for patent infringement in a case that lasted 15 years. Fierstein, whose work on Polaroid's legal team throws his objectivity into question, provides a blow-by-blow account of the case, as well as its extensive backstory. American law enthusiasts will admire Fierstein's meticulous research and analytical prose; the relentless barrage of details, however, is sure to overwhelm lay readers. (Feb.)

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.

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.

"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

"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

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