Kathy Joseph Books

Go on a wild journey covering over 400 years of history to discover for yourself the unlikely yet true stories of the characters who paved the way for modern electricity.

From the assistant who invented the electric light 140 years before Edison to the severed ear that led to the telephone, follow the chain of experiments, inventions, and discoveries through time. Beginning with Queen Elizabeth’s bored doctor naming electricity after jewelry, the winding road that leads to you to charge your phone at night will enthrall you.

Rigorously researched, historically and scientifically accurate, and filled with quirky anecdotes, The Lightning Tamers will provide you with a greater understanding of how our electric world works. Whether you’re a history buff, a science lover, or someone who just likes to know more about the world around you, The Lightning Tamers is an entertaining read for you.

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Juan M. Rivas Davila
Juan M. Rivas Davila
Associate Professor Stanford University
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"The Lightning Tamers" is a great book. It shows that the fruits of the "electric revolution" came from the minds of fascinating and complex individuals. The book maintains a fine balance between describing the discovery process and providing a delightful historical background on the personality and circumstances in the lives of many of the giants of science and engineering. Kathy Joseph did a great job in making the lives of Edison, Steinmetz, Tesla, and many others relatable. Somehow it is empowering to see that the people behind some of the most significant advances of our time suffered from self-doubt, ego, and ambition. They combined all the good and bad of their time and were, in short, human, and yet changed the world.
John Jenkins
John JenkinsPresident & CEO Spark Museum of Electrical Invention
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In her wonderful new book “The lightning Tamers”, Kathy Joseph captures the bizarre and beautiful as she unfolds the amazing stories behind the electrical inventions and discoveries that made our modern world possible.
Janalyn Prude
Janalyn Prude
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The Lightning Tammers is not just a good book, it’s a great book! This not only tells the personal stories of those who bit by bit invented different parts of electricity but they also have some funny stories as well. From Huxby, Davies the Tesla and Einstein. They had so many stories I didn’t know and so many men who not only pulled their self up from poverty to be great men of science but some of them became millionaires. This is a great book I know I said that but I want to reiterate because I don’t think my summary is doing it justice. Just know if you love history unlock to know greatest Storkel events this book is so worth reading any respectable historian definitely needs this book in their library. That’s what also be a great book to put on your child‘s summer reading list because as I said it’s not only great it’s entertaining.
Barb
Barb
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This was a super interesting book on the history of electricity. I have to admit some of the technical aspects went over my head. Despite being a scientist, electricity has always been hard for me to understand. For example, I still don’t really understand the difference between AC and DC! But, even with my shaky knowledge of the science behind electricity, I still enjoyed reading about the people involved in bringing it into our homes. I had no idea Westinghouse played such a large role and Edison was jealous of him and Tesla was a bit of a kook! I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in electricity or an interest in the history of inventions.
Ross Hover
Ross Hover
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Kathy, I have said it before but I can't say it enough; thank you a million times for all the wonderful videos you produce and all the time and energy you put into your work. Everyone enjoys your channel and it is so needed. As you say science needs context and you are filling that void. God thank you sooo much.
Kevin Toppenberg
Kevin Toppenberg
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Never before have I had such dry equations be brought to life with such nail-biting drama and cliff-hanging excitement. Thanks so much for this!
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You flick on a light without thinking about it. But what about the fascinating and bizarre stories hidden behind that simple action? Fortunes were made and lost, ideas stolen, rivalries pursued, dogs electrocuted, beards set on fire, arms amputated, and decapitated human heads reanimated all with the invention and evolution of electricity.

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