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Empires of Light
by Jill Jonnes
One of the major stories in the history of
technology is the introduction of electrical
power in the final quarter of the 19th century.
This book focuses on the activities of Thomas
Edison (who championed Direct Current, or
DC power), George Westinghouse, and Nicola
Tesla (the latter two being proponents of
Alternating Current, or AC). While a good
historical survey for the general reader,
the major weakness of this work is the author's
writing style.
In attempting to make her book fun and engaging,
Jonnes unleashes a steady onslaught of overwrought
phrases and overdone metaphors. She's a chef
who dumps an entire spice rack into the pot
in the mistaken belief that more seasoning
is always better. So, if you are a perfectionist
about writing, this book will be torturous.
If you are more indulgent, and are intrigued
by the history, it can be worthwhile despite
its faults. |
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