Insisting on the Impossible: The Life of Edwin Land
by Victor K. McElheny
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If a single life exemplifies the inner drive that fires a great inventor, it is the life of Edwin Land. The major innovations that he was able to achieve in photography, optics, industry, and science policy carry priceless lessons for readers today.Insisting on the Impossible is the first full-scale biography of this Magellan of modern technology. Victor McElheny reveals the startling scope and dating spirit of Land’s scientific and entrepreneurial genius. Second only to Edison in the show more number of patents he received (535), Land build a modest enterprise into a gigantic ”invention factory,” turning out not only polarizers and the first instant cameras, but also high-speed and X-ray film, identification systems, 3-D and instant movies, and military devices for night vision and aerial reconnaissance. As a scientist, Land developed a new theory of color vision; as a science advisor to Eisenhower during the Cold War he spearheaded the development of the U-2 spyplane and helped design NASA.Behind these protean achievements was a relentless curiosity, a magical public presence, and a willful optimism that drew him again and again to conquer ”the impossible.” In an era when these qualities are needed more than ever, this masterly biography will speak to anyone involved or interested in business, science, photography, educational reform of government. show lessTags
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This is a very in-depth look at Edwin Land, the man who founded Polaroid. It covers his earliest efforts to make polarizing sheets in his college years, through the founding and exponential growth of the Polaroid corporation, and his life after he left the company (and briefly, it's decline), ending with his death. The text gets a little technical at times, but not such that anyone with a basic science background will have any difficulty following.
The details of the Polaroid corporation are not the main focus of this book, it is Edwin Land the man. In many ways he was like Henry Ford, a very driven, self made man, who was either loved or hated, and sometimes both, for his intensity. The book discusses things like polarization, the U2 show more spy plane, and a number of foundations that he founded, as well as his work with Polaroid. show less
The details of the Polaroid corporation are not the main focus of this book, it is Edwin Land the man. In many ways he was like Henry Ford, a very driven, self made man, who was either loved or hated, and sometimes both, for his intensity. The book discusses things like polarization, the U2 show more spy plane, and a number of foundations that he founded, as well as his work with Polaroid. show less
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4 Works 204 Members
Victor McElheny has covered the revolution in molecular biology for the New York Times, Boston Globe, and Science for over three decades.
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Insisting on the Impossible: The Life of Edwin Land
- Original publication date
- 1998
Classifications
- Genres
- Biography & Memoir, Nonfiction, Art & Design, Technology, General Nonfiction, Business
- DDC/MDS
- 681.418092 — Applied science & technology Manufacture for specific uses Precision instruments and other devices Optical instruments Specific instruments
- LCC
- TR540 .L36 .M36 — Technology Photography Photography Color photography
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 89
- Popularity
- 359,905
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
