Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla Summary, PDF, EPUB, Audio

Q: What is *Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla* about?

*Wizard* explores Nikola Tesla’s groundbreaking inventions, personal struggles, and legacy as a visionary inventor. Marc Seifer’s biography charts Tesla’s development of AC power, wireless communication, and robotics while addressing why he vanished from history books. The book uses primary sources like letters, notebooks, and FBI files to reveal Tesla’s rivalry with Edison, financial challenges, and the collapse of his Wardenclyffe project.

Q: Is *Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla* worth reading?

Yes. Praised as “revelatory” (*Publishers Weekly*) and “a serious piece of scholarship” (*Scientific American*), *Wizard* offers the most comprehensive account of Tesla’s life. Seifer’s 20-year research spans 400+ letters and rare documents, providing fresh insights into Tesla’s genius and his era.

Q: What are Nikola Tesla’s key inventions covered in the book?

The book credits Tesla with: - Alternating current (AC) power systems - Wireless communication and remote control - Fluorescent lighting and the induction motor - Early robotics and X-ray experimentation Seifer argues these innovations underpin modern tech like smartphones and WiFi.

Q: What primary sources does Marc Seifer use in *Wizard*?

Seifer draws from: - 400+ letters between Tesla and figures like J.P. Morgan - Tesla’s lab notebooks and FBI-released documents - Rare Serbian archives and court testimonies This evidence debunks myths and clarifies Tesla’s role in key inventions.

Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla

Marc J. Seifer

3.73 (6473 Reviews)

Biography

Technology

History

Overview

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Author

FAQs

Discover the genius who powered our world. "Wizard" unveils Tesla's electrifying life beyond Edison's shadow, inspiring Tesla Motors co-founder JB Straubel. What revolutionary idea did Tesla conceive that we're only now realizing was a century ahead of its time?

What is Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla about?

Wizard explores Nikola Tesla’s groundbreaking inventions, personal struggles, and legacy as a visionary inventor. Marc Seifer’s biography charts Tesla’s development of AC power, wireless communication, and robotics while addressing why he vanished from history books. The book uses primary sources like letters, notebooks, and FBI files to reveal Tesla’s rivalry with Edison, financial challenges, and the collapse of his Wardenclyffe project.

Who should read Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla?

This book suits history enthusiasts, STEM professionals, and readers curious about overlooked innovators. Its blend of technical detail and narrative depth appeals to those interested in early electrical engineering, patent wars, or the human story behind technological progress.

Is Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla worth reading?

Yes. Praised as “revelatory” (Publishers Weekly) and “a serious piece of scholarship” (Scientific American), Wizard offers the most comprehensive account of Tesla’s life. Seifer’s 20-year research spans 400+ letters and rare documents, providing fresh insights into Tesla’s genius and his era.

What are Nikola Tesla’s key inventions covered in the book?

The book credits Tesla with:

Alternating current (AC) power systems
Wireless communication and remote control
Fluorescent lighting and the induction motor
Early robotics and X-ray experimentation
Seifer argues these innovations underpin modern tech like smartphones and WiFi.

Why was Nikola Tesla forgotten, according to Wizard?

Seifer attributes Tesla’s obscurity to patent disputes with Edison and Marconi, financial mismanagement, and skepticism toward his futuristic ideas (e.g., wireless energy). J.P. Morgan’s withdrawal from Wardenclyffe, Tesla’s failed wireless power project, marked a turning point in his decline.

What primary sources does Marc Seifer use in Wizard?

Seifer draws from:

400+ letters between Tesla and figures like J.P. Morgan
Tesla’s lab notebooks and FBI-released documents
Rare Serbian archives and court testimonies
This evidence debunks myths and clarifies Tesla’s role in key inventions.

How does Wizard compare Tesla and Thomas Edison?

The book contrasts Edison’s profit-driven DC systems with Tesla’s visionary AC power. Seifer details their “War of the Currents,” highlighting Edison’s smear campaigns and Tesla’s eventual triumph in electrifying industries.

What was the Wardenclyffe project, and why did it fail?

Tesla’s Wardenclyffe Tower (1901–1906) aimed to provide global wireless power and communication. Seifer explains J.P. Morgan withdrew funding after Marconi’s radio successes, fearing wireless energy’s unprofitability. The tower’s demolition sealed Tesla’s financial ruin.

What acclaim has Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla received?

Endorsements include:

“A masterpiece” – Bestselling author Nelson DeMille
“Highly Recommended” – American Association for the Advancement of Science
Featured in Nature, The Washington Post, and BBC documentaries

How does Marc Seifer’s expertise shape this biography?

Seifer’s background in graphology and psychology informs his analysis of Tesla’s correspondence and mental state. His 20-year research timeline, including visits to Tesla’s archives in Serbia, adds scholarly rigor.

Are there criticisms of Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla?

Some readers find the technical details dense, though most praise its thoroughness. The book focuses more on historical context than speculative theories about Tesla’s later years.

How does Wizard redefine Nikola Tesla’s modern relevance?

Seifer positions Tesla as a foundational figure for 21st-century tech, linking his work to cellular networks, robotics, and renewable energy. The book argues Tesla’s AC system and wireless concepts remain central to innovation.

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The Man Who Conjured Lightning From Air

00:00

Picture a winter night in 1899. Against the Colorado darkness, a massive wooden tower suddenly erupts with electrical fire-bolts of lightning one hundred feet long crackling into the sky, visible from miles away. Inside the laboratory, a thin man with piercing eyes calmly adjusts dials, orchestrating this symphony of artificial thunder. This wasn't special effects or movie magic. This was Nikola Tesla, and he was attempting something no one had dared before: to turn the entire planet into a wireless power station. Born during a lightning storm in 1856, Tesla seemed marked from birth to wrestle with electricity itself. His mother, though illiterate, possessed photographic memory and invented household tools by candlelight. His father, a priest, wanted Nikola to follow him into the church. But Tesla had other plans-plans that would literally illuminate the modern world. Yet despite inventing the electrical system powering our civilization, he died penniless in a New York hotel room, feeding pigeons and claiming he'd built a death ray.

The Boy Who Saw Machines in His Mind

When Titans Clash: The War of the Currents

The Showman Scientist: Tesla's Golden Age

The Tower That Reached Too Far

The Long Twilight of Genius

The Lightning That Still Strikes

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Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla isn't just a book — it's a masterclass in Biography. To help you absorb its lessons in the way that works best for you, we offer five unique learning modes. Whether you're a deep thinker, a fast learner, or a story lover, there's a mode designed to fit your style.

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

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