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Edison & The Electric Chair: A Story of Light and Death

by Mark Essig
$11.61 Now $5.90 Save 49%
Compare to estimated retail price: S$23.19  

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Edison & The Electric Chair: A Story of Light and Death - Thryft
Edison & The Electric Chair: A Story of Light and Death - Thryft

Edison's complex legacy: light, death, and morality.

Exploring the dichotomy of innovation and ethics, this book delves into a tale of how one of history's greatest inventors, Thomas Edison, became entwined with the development of the electric chair. Beyond the intriguing story of invention, it sheds light on the social, and political intricacies of the time, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in the impacts of technology on society and the moral dilemmas innovators often face.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
Sale

Edison & The Electric Chair: A Story of Light and Death

by Mark Essig
$11.61 Now $5.90 Save 49%
Compare to estimated retail price: S$23.19  

The item you've got your eye on is secondhand. You probably already know that, but just in case!

The estimated retail price shown next to any listed item represents the first-hand prices we've seen elsewhere, or the estimated original retail price of a comparable item of the same quality, construction and material offered elsewhere in new condition.

ISBN: 9780802777102
Authors: Mark Essig
Publisher: Walker Books
Date of Publication: 2005-10-01
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: History, Biographies & Memoirs, Science
Related Topics: Biography, Autobiography, American History, Medicine, War, Microhistory, Popular Science
Goodreads rating: 3.82
(rated by 254 readers)

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Description

A Discover magazine Top Science Book. Thomas Edison stunned America in 1879 by unveiling a world-changing invention - the light bulb - and then launching the electrification of America's cities. A decade later, despite having been an avowed opponent of the death penalty, Edison threw his laboratory resources and reputation behind the creation of a very different sort of device - the electric chair. Deftly exploring this startling chapter in American history, Edison & the Electric Chair delivers both a vivid portrait of a nation on the cusp of modernity and a provocative new examination of Edison himself. Edison championed the electric chair for reasons that remain controversial to this day. Was Edison genuinely concerned about the suffering of the condemned? Was he waging a campaign to smear his rival George Westinghouse's alternating current and boost his own system? Or was he warning the public of real dangers posed by the high-voltage alternating wires that looped above hundreds of America's streets? Plumbing the fascinating history of electricity, Mark Essig explores America's love of technology and its fascination with violent death, capturing an era when the public was mesmerized and terrified by an invisible force that produced blazing light, powered streetcars, carried telephone conversations - and killed.
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

Find out more about our process here.

 

Similar Reads

Edison's complex legacy: light, death, and morality.

Exploring the dichotomy of innovation and ethics, this book delves into a tale of how one of history's greatest inventors, Thomas Edison, became entwined with the development of the electric chair. Beyond the intriguing story of invention, it sheds light on the social, and political intricacies of the time, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in the impacts of technology on society and the moral dilemmas innovators often face.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.