Reddit reviews Tesla: Master of Lightning

Check out Tesla, Master of Lightning. An excellent book on the man. From the preface:

>His indifference to corporate and academic alliances, not to mention a certain testiness toward fellow engineers, plus the fact that he had no offspring to carry on his name, lay at the root of the obscurity which befell him.

It's even more than that, however. He trusted in others in a truly naive way, but due to the fact that he felt men of science were above petty, business back-stabbery. This, naturally, led him to being back-stabbed over and over, particularly as relates to his patents.

As another example there is an incident, too, described aptly enough in Wikipedia:

>In 1885 Tesla claimed he could redesign Edison's inefficient motor and generators, making an improvement in both service and economy. According to Tesla, Edison remarked "There's fifty thousand dollars in it for you - if you can do it".[36] This has been noted as an odd statement from an Edison whose company was stingy with pay and did not have that sort of cash on hand.[37] After months of work when Tesla finished the task and inquired about payment Edison claimed he was only joking replying, "Tesla, you don't understand our American humor".[38][39] Edison offered a $10 a week raise over Tesla's US$18 per week salary, but Tesla refused it and immediately resigned.[40]

http://www.amazon.com/Tesla-Man-Time-Margaret-Cheney/dp/0743215362

http://www.amazon.com/Tesla-Master-Lightning-Margaret-Cheney/dp/158663187X