The Grid. Published in 2007 by the Joseph Henry Press
Background:
The Grid presents the story of how society mastered electricity and how, at times, electricity masters society.Surprisingly a thing as important as the electrical grid had no comprehensive history book of its own, not one that brought the account forward from the time of the early electrical pioneers such as Edison, Westinghouse, and Tela. The Grid is the first such history for general readers
Few books can describe, as this one does, important engineering and technical subjects (what is electricity, how does nuclear fission work, how is electricity related to climate change?) in prose that is not only readable but thought-provoking. It brings to light the careers of several important but undervalued historical figures, such as Samuel Insull, David Lilienthal, and Lewis Mumford.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
"This wonderfully written story of the electricity industry's remarkable history is a prerequisite for understanding its challenges and opportunities today... a very fun read.”
-- Amory B. Lovins, CEO, Rocky Mountain Institute
“What Thoreau did for Walden Pond, Schewe has done for The Grid. At last, a subject too often chronicled by dry institutional histories has found its bard. It's fun to read and vividly told.”
-- Keay Davidson, author of "Carl Sagan: A Life"
"The Grid has the greatest impact on our quality of life of any technological advancement, yet few people understand the Grid and recognize it as the power delivery system that brings electricity to our homes, businesses, and much more. Phillip Schewe does a masterful job of recounting the Grid's history and some of the many challenges it now faces."
– Clark Gellings, Vice President - Innovation, Electric Power Research Institute
---Summer 2013 (six years after publication) The Grid was at the top of the National Academy Press's summer reading list
FROM REVIEWS
One of the science books of the year (for 2007)
—NPR
One of five top books on solar energy
---"Five Books"
“Mr. Schewe, who has a doctorate in particle physics and serves as chief science writer at the American Institute of Physics, seems like the ideal man to tackle the subject. He gives us a lively history of the grid...”
—Wall Street Journal
.“The ensuing tale of the trauma and panic wrought by the power failure is riveting...” “The book is an outstanding historical narrative and commentary on the grid past and present, and is a valuable contribution to understanding its future challenges.”
--Nature
“Physicist's electrifying look into American grid reliance...”
—Cleveland Plain Dealer
“As a physicist who knows his Thoreau, Schewe appreciates electrical technology but keeps it in perspective...Schewe's prose is lucid, his examples are clear, and he finds ingenious ways to help readers to see how their lives and possessions are inseparable from the fabric of the grid.”
—American Scientist
“‘The Grid’ is an unusual book about an important subject.” “It is certainly eminently readable...”
—Nature Physics
“Schewe illustrates his subject vividly...buoyant writing...”
—San Diego Union
“...an excellent introduction to the history of the U.S. electricity system for general readers. The easy-to-read style makes the technical complexity of this massive system understandable for most nontechnical audiences.”
—Wall Street Journal news item recommending top books about energy (8/27/07)
“A new book finally gives electricity the treatment it deserves.” “‘The Grid’ is an extraordinarily successful work of popular science writing with interesting historical anecdotes...”
—American.com
“...eclectic survey of the past century and a quarter of electrification...casts a perceptive eye on how that momentous transformation came about, and where it may be heading.”
—Natural History Magazine
“Schewe does a good job of explaining how the grid was built, how it works and the threats to its
future operation.”
—Seattle Post Intelligencer
“Schewe crafts an entertaining narrative with enlightening scientific and historical detail.”
---Publisher’s Weekly
“Phillip Schewe excels at sharp impressionistic snapshots...”
—New Scientist
“Phillip Schewe is excellently qualified to write this popular account of the history and present status of our American electric grid... Schewe gives us a fine history of the creation and development of our American grid.”
—APS Forum on Physics and Society
“Phillip Schewe in The Grid presents a fascinating tour through the intricate network that sends energy through wires, the power supply that we take for granted but know so little about.”
—National Catholic Reporter
“Specialists and general audiences should find the book entertaining...”
—Physics Today, Feb 2008
“Never less than lyrical in style.”
—Engineering and Technology, 24 May 2008
---Nature
---Wall Street Journal
---American.com Magazine
---San Diego Tribune
---Nature Physics
---Cleveland Plain Dealer
---Seattle Post Intelligencer
---Galvin recommendation
---American Scientist
---PFS op-ed in NY TImes
ORDERING THE BOOK:
From Joseph Henry Press/National Academy
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
The Grid presents the story of how society mastered electricity and how, at times, electricity masters society.Surprisingly a thing as important as the electrical grid had no comprehensive history book of its own, not one that brought the account forward from the time of the early electrical pioneers such as Edison, Westinghouse, and Tela. The Grid is the first such history for general readers
Few books can describe, as this one does, important engineering and technical subjects (what is electricity, how does nuclear fission work, how is electricity related to climate change?) in prose that is not only readable but thought-provoking. It brings to light the careers of several important but undervalued historical figures, such as Samuel Insull, David Lilienthal, and Lewis Mumford.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
"This wonderfully written story of the electricity industry's remarkable history is a prerequisite for understanding its challenges and opportunities today... a very fun read.”
-- Amory B. Lovins, CEO, Rocky Mountain Institute
“What Thoreau did for Walden Pond, Schewe has done for The Grid. At last, a subject too often chronicled by dry institutional histories has found its bard. It's fun to read and vividly told.”
-- Keay Davidson, author of "Carl Sagan: A Life"
"The Grid has the greatest impact on our quality of life of any technological advancement, yet few people understand the Grid and recognize it as the power delivery system that brings electricity to our homes, businesses, and much more. Phillip Schewe does a masterful job of recounting the Grid's history and some of the many challenges it now faces."
– Clark Gellings, Vice President - Innovation, Electric Power Research Institute
---Summer 2013 (six years after publication) The Grid was at the top of the National Academy Press's summer reading list
FROM REVIEWS
One of the science books of the year (for 2007)
—NPR
One of five top books on solar energy
---"Five Books"
“Mr. Schewe, who has a doctorate in particle physics and serves as chief science writer at the American Institute of Physics, seems like the ideal man to tackle the subject. He gives us a lively history of the grid...”
—Wall Street Journal
.“The ensuing tale of the trauma and panic wrought by the power failure is riveting...” “The book is an outstanding historical narrative and commentary on the grid past and present, and is a valuable contribution to understanding its future challenges.”
--Nature
“Physicist's electrifying look into American grid reliance...”
—Cleveland Plain Dealer
“As a physicist who knows his Thoreau, Schewe appreciates electrical technology but keeps it in perspective...Schewe's prose is lucid, his examples are clear, and he finds ingenious ways to help readers to see how their lives and possessions are inseparable from the fabric of the grid.”
—American Scientist
“‘The Grid’ is an unusual book about an important subject.” “It is certainly eminently readable...”
—Nature Physics
“Schewe illustrates his subject vividly...buoyant writing...”
—San Diego Union
“...an excellent introduction to the history of the U.S. electricity system for general readers. The easy-to-read style makes the technical complexity of this massive system understandable for most nontechnical audiences.”
—Wall Street Journal news item recommending top books about energy (8/27/07)
“A new book finally gives electricity the treatment it deserves.” “‘The Grid’ is an extraordinarily successful work of popular science writing with interesting historical anecdotes...”
—American.com
“...eclectic survey of the past century and a quarter of electrification...casts a perceptive eye on how that momentous transformation came about, and where it may be heading.”
—Natural History Magazine
“Schewe does a good job of explaining how the grid was built, how it works and the threats to its
future operation.”
—Seattle Post Intelligencer
“Schewe crafts an entertaining narrative with enlightening scientific and historical detail.”
---Publisher’s Weekly
“Phillip Schewe excels at sharp impressionistic snapshots...”
—New Scientist
“Phillip Schewe is excellently qualified to write this popular account of the history and present status of our American electric grid... Schewe gives us a fine history of the creation and development of our American grid.”
—APS Forum on Physics and Society
“Phillip Schewe in The Grid presents a fascinating tour through the intricate network that sends energy through wires, the power supply that we take for granted but know so little about.”
—National Catholic Reporter
“Specialists and general audiences should find the book entertaining...”
—Physics Today, Feb 2008
“Never less than lyrical in style.”
—Engineering and Technology, 24 May 2008
---Nature
---Wall Street Journal
---American.com Magazine
---San Diego Tribune
---Nature Physics
---Cleveland Plain Dealer
---Seattle Post Intelligencer
---Galvin recommendation
---American Scientist
---PFS op-ed in NY TImes
ORDERING THE BOOK:
From Joseph Henry Press/National Academy
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Items related to The Grid
---PFS article in Scientific American (with Massoud Amin)
---PFS article in American Scientist (with Tom Casten)
---PFS article in Scientific American (with Massoud Amin)
---PFS article in American Scientist (with Tom Casten)