Sample
  • Wizard

  • The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla: Biography of a Genius
  • By: Marc J. Seifer
  • Narrated by: Simon Prebble
  • Length: 22 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (3,969 ratings)

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Wizard

By: Marc J. Seifer
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
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Publisher's summary

Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), credited as the inspiration for radio, robots, and even radar, has been called the patron saint of modern electricity. Based on original material and previously unavailable documents, this acclaimed book is the definitive biography of the man considered by many to be the founding father of modern electrical technology. Among Tesla's creations were the channeling of alternating current, fluorescent and neon lighting, wireless telegraphy, and the giant turbines that harnessed the power of Niagara Falls.

©1996 Marc J. Seifer (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Seifer's vivid, revelatory, exhaustively researched biography rescues pioneer inventor Nikola Tesla from cult status and restores him to his rightful place as a principal architect of the modern age." ( Publishers Weekly)

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What listeners say about Wizard

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great history.

I enjoyed the history, but the accent was hard to get get. Some variation in volume. Would be better as a sit down listening experience rather then a travel experience.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

extraordinary life of Tesla

what is crazy how extraordinary in his life
great book gets it slow middle still pretty crazy right

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Missed Opportunities

Would you consider the audio edition of Wizard to be better than the print version?

Yes

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wizard?

Communication with Mars

Which character – as performed by Simon Prebble – was your favorite?

JP Morgan

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Tricked by Marconi

Any additional comments?

I wish I had the talent to invent product that could change the world

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

an excellent, comprehensive treatment of Tesla

you really get to know the inventor. the author shows that he is using historical documents but weaves the story together we'll. very enjoyable performance as well.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

very long but glad I made it through

story lines frequently overlap time frames making it difficult to follow the chronology of events in the book. Exhustive in detail and repetitive on many counts with numerous examples given to make a single point or citing numerous events that could have been summarized by a blanket statement.

For example the author could have said "Tesla made requests for financing from JP Morgan 25 times, each of which was refused" instead of spending hours outlining each of those requests.

Good information... fascinating man and mind... glad I listened... I feel we owe a lot to this man...wish the book had been edited more or perhaps even abridged.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A bit clumsy, but a gripping story

There is some bogging down in detail, but then, the details make the story. A baffling man, Tesla is shown to be very human and almost infantile, while quite a genius. Fascinating story except it plods at points in the words of the author. Still, very worth the read, I learned all about my grandfather's world (b. 1890) as well as all those Morgan and Edison and Einstein and Westinghouse dudes lifetimes.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An Amazing Experience

JPMorgan, CIA, and the American Government should be tried for crimes against humanity. To think we could ALL be benefitting from free light and power, but are not simply do to greed, saddens me inexplicably.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thorough, insightful and entertaining

There will be a little too much detail here and there on some of the workings of the machines but really it's not an issue and helps provide some magnitude of the achievement to those that are more familiar with those subjects. It might a little tougher to do longs of this book; the pace, the narrators tone and nature of a biography recalling historical facts amd it can feel like a procession of rapid facts after an hour or so. For a biography that has a large focus on establishing the world Tesla and his place in it, I think it's perfect. There's undoubtedly other books out there that focus only Tesla himself.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent history!

Really loved how the author weaved multiple historical figures into Tesla’s sphere of influence. In the end, it appears Tesla was the originator for the idea of WiFi!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Imagine the possibilities

Even though Tesla never realized the holy grail of his inventor’s mind, this story left me with a new appreciation for imagination and what is possible. I loved the thorough and even-handed telling of Tesla’s life.

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