American Genesis is the book that helped earn Thomas Hughes his reputation as one of the foremost historians of technology of our age. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1990, the book tells the sweeping story of America's technological revolution. Unlike other histories of technology, which focus on particular inventions like the light bulb or the automobile, American Genesis makes these inventions characters in the chronicle, shaped by and shaping a broader cultural context. By masterfully weaving scientific and technological advancement into other cultural trends, Hughes demonstrates...

This is a biography of a major American inventor, who obtained more than 350 patents during his lifetime. Elmer Sperry contributed greatly to the technological changes occurring between 1880 and 1930.