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Tesla: Man Out of Time  By  cover art

Tesla: Man Out of Time

By: Margaret Cheney
Narrated by: Arthur Morey,Cassandra Campbell
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Publisher's summary

In Tesla: Man Out of Time, Margaret Cheney explores the brilliant and prescient mind of one of the 20th century's greatest scientists and inventors. Called a madman by his enemies, a genius by others, and an enigma by nearly everyone, Nikola Tesla was, without a doubt, a trailblazing inventor who created astonishing, sometimes world-transforming devices that were virtually without theoretical precedent. Tesla not only discovered the rotating magnetic field - the basis of most alternating-current machinery - but also introduced us to the fundamentals of robotics, computers, and missile science. Almost supernaturally gifted, unfailingly flamboyant and neurotic, Tesla was troubled by an array of compulsions and phobias and was fond of extravagant, visionary experimentations. He was also a popular man-about-town, admired by men as diverse as Mark Twain and George Westinghouse, and adored by scores of society beauties.

From Tesla's childhood in Yugoslavia to his death in New York in the 1940s, Cheney paints a compelling human portrait and chronicles a lifetime of discoveries that radically altered - and continue to alter - the world in which we live. Tesla: Man Out of Time is an in-depth look at the seminal accomplishments of a scientific wizard and a thoughtful examination of the obsessions and eccentricities of the man behind the science.

©1981 Margaret Cheney. All rights reserved. (P)2014 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

What listeners say about Tesla: Man Out of Time

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Good but very dated.

Didn't realize it was so dated. About 35 years old now. I wonder what technical advancements have made using Tesla's ideas since the book was written and published.

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Disappointing

What was most disappointing about Margaret Cheney’s story?

The author clearly doesn't understand how any of his inventions worked. The narrator just prattles on and on about creations in the same esoteric language that Tesla used and does not attempt to make sense of it in a modern context. It's monotonous, unstructured and a let down, given the subject matter. The guy was a clearly nuts, but that is less interesting than what he created. I guess social eccentricities are easier to research and talk about, than technical innovation.

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6 people found this helpful

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Excellent insight on Tesla

A very insightful and eye opening biography on one of the most over looked man who's work and inventions have touched almost every life on the planet for a hundred years.

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Everything is possible

Any additional comments?

A comprehensive biopic of the legendary genius Nikola Tesla that is riveting as it is revealing of both his great achievements, personal life and the historical, economic and social milieu of his time. Both Tesla as well as a number of his contemporaries are portrayed with piercing realism and presence, and the circumstances in which he operated are described in great detail from his financial struggles, fascinating experiments and demonstrations, the grandeur of his ideas and visions to the opposing interests of some of his contemporaries and industry magnates and t. An enjoyable performance that evokes a sense that everything is possible while at the same time illustrating the limitations of our own time.

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I didn't finish it.

I have been intrigued by this man for years. The whole drama about the conflict between the utilization of alternating current vs. direct current really is fascinating. I heartily recommend G. Moore's "Last Days of Night". I was interested his actual theories and technical aspect so f his work. This is not that book. But it did seem to do a thorough job go detailing his life. In the end, Tesla was a brilliant man who could not work with others. As a result , his intellect was largely wasted. it sounds like he was kind of a arrogant *ick.

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Fascinating!

I am even more curious after finishing this book! I will look for more information on Tesla now.

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My Favorite Nonfiction Sci-fi Thriller

I’ve read all the Tesla biographies, this one is the best - enjoy this book if you want to be transported, inspired, and dream a little bigger.

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This is a brilliantly written piece of non fiction

This is a brilliantly written piece of non fiction about a man who probably had the most impact on technical advances in modern times until Steve Jobs

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Excellent bio

Thorough bio about the man responsible for many of our modern technologies. Would reccomend to anyone interested in the behind the scenes life of one of the world's greatest
inventors.

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Brilliant

Great mind of his time, who put people first, personal fame 2nd. True master of electricity and inventor of most concepts and products used today.

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