THOMAS A. EDISON: Builder of Civilization

by H. Gordon Garbedian ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 1947

A competent but routine biography, with the inventor emerging as somewhat a stuffed shirt. There are the oft repeated significant incidents, -- the box on the ear that caused his deafness, the telegrapher's job, the growing pains of an inventor, -all dutifully detailed, with here and there a breathless episode as another invention is born.... Frankly, I begin to question the flood of biographical material, too often repeating in characters sufficiently recorded; I particularly question the trend back to idealization, until qualities of men and women of accomplishment begin to look like endorsement school of advertising. In this particular instance, the author endeavors to make Edison's youthful sharp practice exemplary behavior models for modern youth; he tells of how he concerned the market and sold wares worth two cents for twenty five as if it were a Boy Scout deed of the day.... Let's be a little more objectively critical about the biographies we recommend for younger readers and perhaps we'll stem the flood of mediocre work.

Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1947

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Messner

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1947

Categories: NONFICTION