Publisher Description
In The Idea Factory, New York Times Magazine writer Jon Gertner reveals how Bell Labs served as an incubator for scientific innovation from the 1920s through the 1980s. In its heyday, Bell Labs boasted nearly 15,000 employees, 1,200 of whom held PhDs and 13 of whom won Nobel Prizes. Thriving in a work environment that embraced new ideas, Bell Labs scientists introduced concepts that still propel many of today’s most exciting technologies.
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“An insightful and almost loving history of Bell Labs, the people who worked there and the amazing innovations that came out of there. The book is also an analysis of the process of innovation and the contrast of the Bell Labs model (housed in a regulated monopoly with plenty of money, plenty of time and no competition) and the Silicon Valley model (businesses coming and going, engineers transferring from business to business, ruthless competition). Bell Labs gave us basic research; Silicon Valley gives us great products based on existing research. Bell Labs looked at innovation as encompassing research, development/manufacturing and the creation of a new market with the overriding desire to make things better and cheaper. For a look at what was a great American asset and to learn about innovation, this book is highly recommended.”
—
David (5 out of 5 stars)
