Electric Universe: How Electricity Switched on the Modern World
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Electric Universe: How Electricity Switched on the Modern World Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

David Bodanis (Author), Del Roy (Narrator), Random House Audio (Publisher)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 232 ratings
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The best-selling author of E=mc2 weaves tales of romance, divine inspiration, and fraud through an account of the invisible force that permeates our universe—electricity—and introduces us to the virtuoso scientists who plumbed its secrets.

For centuries, electricity was seen as little more than a curious property of certain substances that sparked when rubbed. Then, in the 1790s, Alessandro Volta began the scientific investigation that ignited an explosion of knowledge and invention. The force that once seemed inconsequential was revealed to be responsible for everything from the structure of the atom to the functioning of our brains. In harnessing its power, we have created a world of wonders—complete with roller coasters and radar, computer networks and psychopharmaceuticals.

In Electric Universe, the great discoverers come to life in all their brilliance and idiosyncrasy, including the visionary Michael Faraday, who struggled against the prejudices of the British class system, and Samuel Morse, a painter who, before inventing the telegraph, ran for mayor of New York City on a platform of persecuting Catholics. Here too is Alan Turing, whose dream of a marvelous thinking machine—what we know as the computer—was met with indifference, and who ended his life in despair after British authorities forced him to undergo experimental treatments to “cure” his homosexuality.

From the frigid waters of the Atlantic to the streets of Hamburg during a World War II firestorm to the interior of the human body, Electric Universe is a mesmerizing journey of discovery.

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  1. Listening Length
    6 hours and 39 minutes
  2. Author
    David Bodanis
  3. Narrator
    Del Roy
  4. Audible release date
    February 16, 2005
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Random House Audio
  7. ASIN
    B0007VZ6XS
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 6 hours and 39 minutes
Author David Bodanis
Narrator Del Roy
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date February 16, 2005
Publisher Random House Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0007VZ6XS
Best Sellers Rank #199,319 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#167 in History of Computers & Technology
#171 in Physics of Electricity
#314 in History of Science

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
232 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Gil Cabrera
5.0 out of 5 stars Electric Universe more than just a title
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2013
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*SPOILERS*

"So what are you reading?" I looked up to see my waitress looking disinterested and not even looking in my direction when she asked.
"Electric Universe by David Bodanis." I replied.
"Sounds boring." She exhaled as if stifling a yawn.
Now ordinarily I would just let it go at that but I got the distinct impression that her quick dismissal was not just about the book but of me. And I can understand that upon first impression this stocky guy was paying more attention to his book and the hockey highlights on the TVs and the beer placed in front of him than on the variously scantily clad waitresses this establishment is famous for. But hey, I was vying for time so traffic home would diminish. But she did not know that.
"You would think, right?" I replied "But consider this..."
I went on to tell her of the story of the young teacher for the deaf who was so in love with one of his students had to go to extremes to prove to her affluent family that he was worthy of her hand in marriage. With the foreknowledge on how vocal chords produce sound he surmised that a box full of carbon interacted with electric current could produce a device to talk for miles and miles. And with the invention of the telephone Aleck Bell won the hand of his true love Mabel.
How a racial purist was so sure that blacks and immigrants were undermining the integrity of the United States and whose conspiracy theory to the hilt believed that they were all masterminded by the king of Austria decided to create a code to subvert this suspected American coup. Much to Samuel Morse's chagrin that same code was later used to transmit to Europe, via undersea telegraph cable, to send their tired and weary. We have jobs and plenty of land for them.
How a troubled WWII code breaker was so brilliant that he devised, through quantum mechanics, on how a computer was to function. All in his head for the technology was not there yet. Try as he might he couldn't get others to understand how atoms that pop in and out of existence could be used as great data reservoirs. Tried for homosexuality (illegal in England of that time) he was forced to take hormone pills, which started transforming his body and stunted his thinking. No longer able to envision his computer workings placed him in a deeper malaise that in the end decided not to go on. Fascinated since childhood in Disney's Sleeping Beauty Alan Turing decided to take an apple, laced with cyanide, and sleep until his prince charming would wake him from this slumber.
I look at Google maps and see that the traffic has lightened. I tell the waitress, who took a seat with me to listen to the stories that I had to leave. She asks that I ask for her section next time I come in.
Goes to prove a book should never be judged by its boring sounding title.
12 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars History of Electricity
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2019
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An excellent book that describes electricity and its functions. In many ways the author bridges chemistry with electrical operation . The book has a chapter on the brain and the way it can identify and detect items. Read this chapter as it opens and solves many of the questions we all want to know pertaining to the neural connections in our brain. This book should be a must read for students for students interested in the field of electricity.
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Pepe
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, brings together the concept
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2017
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Great read, brings together the concept, science and development of electricity in a historic point of view; a tad technical, it can not be avoided in due to the nature of the subject, but greatly simplified for al audiences.
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M. Strong
3.0 out of 5 stars Not enough focus or clarity - doesn't illuminate the topic.
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2005
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This book reads like a lot of the papers I wrote in college - just enough content to get to the page requirement. It's really too bad and unexpected, because Bodanis's previous effort at science made understandable for the layman, "E=mc2" is a fun, focused, and educational read.

Electric universe has the makings of a good book, but it seems as if Bodanis realized once he tackled that the topic that it was too big for his planned format so he just chose to touch on a story here and a story there and call it good. The result is unfocused and doesn't help you to understand electricity or its history too much better than whe you started the book.

I don't recommend this one, but don't let that dissaude you from reading "e=mc2," which is fantastic.
19 people found this helpful
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Hank92123
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating history of electricity and those who made it useful.
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2022
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The history of the early experimenters in electricity and their various interactions and conflicts were fascinating.
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Geoffrey Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars Great but Incomplete
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2012
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This is a very well written, engaging book. Although I don't see how a book on the evolution of man's relationship with electricity could exclude the foremost figure in this relationship: Nicola Tesla. It is still well worth the read for what it does cover.
3 people found this helpful
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Chris Heckert
5.0 out of 5 stars Electrifying!
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2022
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Love this book! Keep buying a copies because I give mine away.
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Joseph Skinkis
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2017
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I had no idea of how electricity had covered so many aspects of our life. The presentation was orderly, easy to understand, and exciting. I would recommend this book to any young person who is interested in pursuing a career in science. I am 80-years-old and now wish I went into science when I was young. Keep up that great writing, David.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
saurabh
5.0 out of 5 stars David Bodanis Is Genius
Reviewed in India on September 24, 2020
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As with the other books of David Bodanis, this one too is a must read.
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Si eres curioso, o estudias física o ingeniería, te conviene leerlo.
Reviewed in Spain on October 14, 2019
Verified Purchase
Recorrido ameno y muy completo de la historia del desarrollo del conocimiento y del domino de la electricidad. Una síntesis muy meritoria. Lástima que no se reedite su traducción al español.
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Paul G
5.0 out of 5 stars Great buy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2019
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Good little book
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ewbd
5.0 out of 5 stars Gateway to knowledge
Reviewed in Canada on September 11, 2017
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Fascinating but not overburdened with technical details. Good reading list with explanations. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to refresh or expand their knowledge of electricity and magnetism without getting bogged down in mathematics.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 23, 2018
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Good into electricity on earth
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