I slowly read this one after purchasing it in the Kindle store. Thanks feels sort of funny within the connect of modern light technology---I spent my time reading most of the book in the near-dark because of my device's backlit screen.

I think it's a bit hard to read continuously, and worked better for me in segments. There's coverage of accidents, safely improvements, the development of the EE field and profession, and more importantly (and interestingly for me) what the introduction and later improvements of electric lighting did to people and their spaces. The street, there factory, the home. Freeburg shapes his chapters topically so you can move from one bit to another depending on your interest. I'm sure not everyone is going to want to read the professionalization chapter. There are sections within chapters examining era reformer and critical responses as well.

The book goes up until the 1930s when electric lighting became more widespread (not just a city thing). Edison himself gets a big celebration thrown by Ford, and a keynote by President Hoover.... and he is so tired of electricity, but he acknowledges that HE DID NOT INVENT THE LIGHT BULB ON HIS OWN. The competition to improve the bulb, to make it a marketable product, that was his feat. Dozens of inventors contributed to the development of the incandescent light bulb, and Edison got lucky enough to have his name written largest in history because he created a model which fit the public's need and wallet. This book is not his story, it is the electric light's history from Edison's success to his want for a nice camping trip and a nap after all the excitement.

Edison and Ford used to go on yearly "escape modern life" camping trips.....with cars full of tech.....alright then.

Critique: a bit too long, perhaps too many examples. I recommend skipping chapters that do not interest you.