You can almost hear Steve Jobs saying it: A worthwhile invention “must be startling, unexpected and must come into a world that is not prepared for it.” Except the person who actually said this was Edwin Land, the man Steve Jobs revered and called “a national treasure.”
Founder of Polaroid and father of instant photography, Land led what was arguably the most glamorous technology company of the 20th century. Relying on his personal vision of what consumers would want—before consumers could even conceive of it—he introduced new products in widely anticipated, dramatic demonstrations that generated huge publicity. In many ways, he was the original Steve Jobs.
Now, in A Triumph of Genius: Edwin Land, Polaroid, and the Kodak Patent War (Ankerwycke; February 2015; $35.00), Ronald K. Fierstein tells the fascinating story of the reclusive genius who, as a teen, invented the plastic polarizer, which is still used almost a century later in countless popular applications including our ubiquitous sunglasses and LCD screens. In addition to pioneering the revolutionary one-step system of photography, Land made critical contributions to top-secret U.S. military intelligence efforts during World War II and the Cold War in the service of seven American presidents. He amassed 535 patents in his name, third on the list of U.S. inventors behind only Edison and one of Edison’s associates.
When Land planned to drop out of Harvard and asked for the equivalent of $50,000 to commercialize his polarizer discovery, his father was concerned, but not about the idea or the money. He counseled his young son to protect himself in case some big company came along to steal his invention. Land took this advice to heart and became one of the most vocal advocates of the patent system, earning the sobriquet “Champion of Patents.” Ultimately, Land and Polaroid looked to the patent system to protect their company in the high-stakes battle with mentor, turned rival, Eastman Kodak. A Triumph of Genius presents an unprecedented account of the most significant patent litigation of the 20th century.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ron Fierstein worked closely with Edwin Land as a young lawyer on the team of litigators representing Polaroid in court. After leaving the practice of law in the early ‘80s, he enjoyed a successful career in the entertainment industry, managing recording artists such as Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Ron continues to represent his brother, Harvey Fierstein, in his theater, TV and film endeavors. He lives with his wife in Chappaqua, NY.
A nonfiction biographical legal thriller, A Triumph of Genius chronicles the life of a man whose work and legacy continue to influence technological innovation today. I look forward to speaking with you about Ron Fierstein and A Triumph of Genius .