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)

Featured Article: The Best Biography Audiobooks to Educate, Fascinate, and Inspire


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What listeners say about Wizard

Average customer ratings
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  • 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

An informative and enlightening view into the man

I really enjoyed this insight into the genius that was Tesla. It is a long listen, but worth every minute. However, it is a little diminished by the attempts by the narrator to create characters using different voices and accents.

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

A must read for the understanding of modern times

You have no idea how intertwined is the work of Tesla to our technology and culture; from our dependency to electricity to Frankenstein movies. Get to know Tesla.

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

Maybe good for a research paper, but...

Having just finished an excellent trilogy of books about Teddy Roosevelt by Edmund Morris, the reviewer realizes that an excellent and well documented biography can also be a page-turning adventure. Considering the fascinating subject matter, this book falls flat on its stupid face. Includes a mulllion facts about Tesla in a haphazard and unremarkable fashion. This sucker is a horse tranquilizer. The sections regarding the Morgan correspondence letters elevate it from a one star status, but considering this man invented a death ray and I felt like I was slogging through to finish it tell you all you need to know.

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

Brilliant Wizard gets his thunder stolen

Tesla was a brilliant inventor who has impacted us as much as Edison but is not as well known. The story Seifer paints is one of a brilliant inventor who as a dynamic visionary far ahead of his time tied up in corporate espionage with big names such as Edison, Westinghouse, Morgan and others. If Tesla had gained recognition for his inventions in his time rather then having many of them taken from him he would be much more widely known and would have had a legacy rivaling Edison and Westinghouse for sure.

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

A little monotonous but informative

The narrator did a decent job considering the encyclopedia-like presentation by the author in this bio. He characterized the various voices better than some I’ve listened to.

The author should have spent more time indulging the reader in the physicality of some of Tesla’s inventions. Instead one gets straight-forward and mechanical descriptions. Having finished this book, I still feel distanced from these esoteric creations. A better writer would have made this more vivid and personal.

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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

A massive, missing part of history

In order to understand the modern world and the world of the future, you MUST at least understand the vision of Tesla.

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

Tesla was a trooper... he fought to invent

I never knew how under valued Tesla was by most... If he had close friends they would have told him to give up. If he wasn't sure of his ideas being impactful he wouldn't have sought resources... Door after door slammed lack of opportunity yet he kept trying... When all he could live on was his name while being shamed he stayed the course .... inspirational thanks for this audiobook it is a gift to know his story, one that I will listen to over and over I'm sure!

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

It’s good

Dude lived a crazy life. Followed his passions to the fullest extent. There were however a lot of side stories in this book. The book was over contextualized but still fun to read.

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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

A very rare insight to Teslas real life

Amazing book, I'm 26, thoroughly enjoyed both the book itself and the context in which it was given .

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A very good listen, well worth the cost (or credit

I've listened to a few Tesla bios now and this is the best so far. Well researched and nicely entertwined with relevant factoids from the period. This is one that I'd listen to again.

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