Reviews

Mad Like Tesla: Underdog Inventors and their Relentless Pursuit of Clean Energy by Tyler Hamilton

duparker's review against another edition

3.0

This was an interesting book. I initially grabbed it because of the Tesla name/connection. In some ways the book does evoke Tesla through the inventory and description of inventors who are not understood or appreciated now, just as Tesla was not appreciated or understood 100 years ago.

The inventions and discoveries reviewed and introduced in the book run the gamete from just around the corner to far out there. They are all energy related and after reading Too Much Magic about the futility of presuming replacement fuel sources are just around the corner the book seems too far fetched and like science fiction.

I wonder if I would have appreciated it more, if I hadn't just read TMM.

shayneh's review against another edition

3.0

Interesting review of current efforts in alternative energy; not bad science writing.

twirlsandwhirls's review

5.0

I loved this book and I'll keep the review short! Tyler Hamilton wrote the book in a way that was beautiful, heart-warming, engaging, informative, and genuinely interesting. It really is a book about underdogs, mad scientists, and dogged inventors. Fortunately Mad Like Tesla didn't jump off into an us-versus-them mentality, where it's big oil and the status quo against the little guys. His writing was nuanced and more balanced than that, which is a huge credit to his respect for the readers and also to the innovators/small business tycoons he profiled.

Hamilton is clearly very concerned about peak oil, the current energy crisis, and finding sustainable options for humanity's sake. That much is clear. He's also incredibly optimistic and hopeful but still thorough. Each chapter felt like I was present at the interview. I got a feel for the personalities involved and began to understand some of their struggles. I'll need to start reading Tyler's blog: http://www.cleanbreak.ca/