Comment by Lyngbakr
2 years ago
I'm currently halfway through The Idea Factory: Bell Labs & the Great Age of American Innovation by Jon Gertner. The stories and characters behind all the inventions and ideas are absolutely fascinating, as is the culture they cultivated there. Definitely recommended!
I heard about this book from hackernews a year or two ago. I'm not a big non-fiction fan, but I absolutely devoured that book. Strong plus one about Gertner's great work here.
I came here to recommend this book as the title of this article mirrors its title's key descriptor.
It's one of my favorite books; throughout my time reading it I would periodically put it down and just sit with awe in imagining the science and the work happening there throughout the years depicted.
I need to sit down and read it again; but I'm afraid to, as in a way it just gives me this odd sense of mixed unfounded nostalgia and jealousy and a bit of dread for not being a part of something similar anymore.
> and jealousy and a bit of dread for not being a part of something similar anymore.
In some corridor, somewhere in the world, the next Bell Labs is currently under way and others will read books about it in the future. You just have to figure out where it is :)
I think the PC storm is definitely gone. Nowadays everything needs a doctor or something. It's a one shot thing in maybe a few centuries.
yes - really great book