The Forgotten Genius of Oliver Heaviside: A Maverick of Electrical Science [Hardcover]

The best scientific biography I have read in the last few years. . . .?But there is much more in this book than just a biography. The whole history of the development of electricity, of transmission and telephone lines, and of the numerous people who contributed to their development is here. . . .?The life story of this strange man, and of his important contributions to science and mathematics, is told in a page-turning narrative. . . .?This is essential reading for anyone who wishes to know how electrical science acquired its modern form.Simon Altmann, author of Rotations, Quaternions, and Double GroupsMahon deftly captures the quirky brilliance of one of Victorian Britains most remarkable scientific minds.?Bruce Hunt, associate professor, History Department, University of TexasIf youre into mathematics, physics, or engineering, read this book. If you wonder how technology emerges and exponentiates, read this book. If you enjoy stories about people who strive against all odds to create something wonderful, read this book!?Our modern methods and understanding of the behavior of electrical circuitry first coalesced in the mind of Oliver Heaviside, a self-educated telegraph operator who made major electrical innovations in the 1870s. His achievements include reverse engineering and reframing Maxwells equations to make them more accessible, thereby setting the stage for much of twentieth-century physics and engineering. Along the way, he also developed vector analysis and operational calculus to encode and manipulate what he envisioned.?Although virtually unknown today, Heavisides impact on our world has been enormous. Basil Mahons book provides keen insights into this dramatic saga. Through his lasting contributions to science and engineering, Oliver Heaviside lives on, all around us, as youll understand by reading this book.?Lynn Conway, Professor Emerita of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of MichiganIt is very rare for persons lW