Customer Reviews

Air-conditioning America: Engineers and the Controlled Environment, 1900-1960 (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ms Cooper has a great writing style which lends itself perfectly to the understanding of the uninitiated and untechnical layman of this topic. The unexpectedly fresh view into how to see the spaces in which we live made this book a special page-turner which can amuse and delight almost anybody. I highly recommend this book to those who onlt see the spaces we live and work in as shells and the unseen workings of the air-conditioning systems as only on or off.

Gail Coopers classical work on the history of air condition and why the United States choose to partake is a fascinating venture. The book looks at the not only the technology and companies involved in developing air condition but the battle between the pure air activists and man made climate control. The idea of the battle over humidity as opposed to air quality and the idea of air conditioning and heating as one and the same is an interesting historical perspective not seen today. The eventual victory of air conditioning in America came not through industry but through home builders making it a necessity rather than a luxury. The evolution of all these ideas is covered clearly and concisely for readers who are not well versed in technology. If want to read about a little know topic this is a great place to start.