Royal Society Science Book Prize Winner

Electric Universe

by David Bodanis

Summary

A narrative history of electricity for general readers, following the people and ideas that turned an invisible natural force into the foundation of modern life. Bodanis charts a path from early experimenters and the telegraph through Edison and Tesla to radar, computers, and brain science, emphasising the human stakes behind each breakthrough. The book frames electricity as both a scientific story and a social transformation.

Historical Context & Significance

Bodanis focused on the human drama and obsessive personalities behind the telegraph, the lightbulb, and the computer.