A search for the contemporary Nikola Tesla—considered a mad scientist by his society for predicting global warming more than 100 years ago—fuels this analysis of climate issues, which introduces thinkers and inventors who are working to find possible ways out of the energy crisis. From Louis Michaud, a retired refinery engineer who claims we can harness the energy of man-made tornadoes, to a professor and a businessman who are running a company that genetically modifies algae so it can secrete ethanol naturally, these individuals and their unorthodox methods are profiled through first-person interviews, exposing the social, economic, financial, and personal barriers that prevent them from making an impact with their ideas. The existing state of green energy technologies, such as solar, wind, biofuels, smart grid, and energy storage, is also explored, creating a sense of hope against a backdrop of climate dread.
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"Mad Like Tesla is easy to get through, even for readers with only a basic knowledge of energy issues. Hamilton makes complex technologies comprehensible. . . . this book's strong appeal should transcend all borders." —Library Journal (July 1, 2011)
"Hamilton's vivid portrait of some of the people touting new technologies offers insight into why they've had trouble finding mainstream acceptance." —Publishers Weekly (July 18, 2011)
"Canadian science writer Tyler Hamilton has given the scientific community working on renewable energy solutions a public relations boost with his illuminating and important book, Mad Like Tesla: Underdog Inventors and Their Relentless Pursuit of Clean Energy." —New York Journal of Books (September 1, 2011)
"From the spellbinding introduction, this one had me." —Seth Godin, entrepreneur, author, Tribes and We Are All Weird
"Each case examined [in Mad Like Tesla] is engaging, and each would-be game-changing technology is intriguing, so it's easy enough to get caught up in the often whimsical nature of the inventors' visions and follow Hamilton along on the ride." —Canadian Geographic (May 2012)
About the Author
Tyler Hamilton writes a weekly green energy and technology column for the Toronto Star and a popular blog called "Clean Break." He is the author of Privacy Payoff. He lives in Toronto.
Tyler Hamilton is a Canadian author, journalist, blogger and outspoken advocate for development of a global green economy.
Hamilton is editor-in-chief of Corporate Knights magazine, a quarterly publication distributed in Canada through the Globe and Mail and in the United States through the Washington Post. It is North America's only magazine dedicated to corporate sustainability issues and promoting the concepts of clean capitalism and Green GDP.
Hamilton is also energy and green technology writer for the Toronto Star, a role he has held for six years at Canada's largest daily newspaper. Previously, he spent five years as the paper's high-tech and telecommunications reporter. His coverage explores emerging green technologies and companies, the people behind them, and related research that is helping Canada and the world move toward a low-carbon economy. He writes a weekly column called Clean Break that explores trends, issues and technologies in the clean energy space. Hamilton also maintains a personal blog by the same name, at www.cleanbreak.ca, which complements the topics covered in his column. The blog attracts more than 20,000 readers monthly from around Canada, the United States, Europe and parts of Asia.
In fall 2011, Hamilton published the book Mad Like Tesla: Underdog Inventors and Their Relentless Pursuit of Clean Energy (ECW Press), which details the journey of energy invention and struggles that many unconventional innovators and entrepreneurs face in their efforts to be taken seriously. A year earlier the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance - the largest high-tech trade association in Canada - named Hamilton science and technology "reporter of the year" for his coverage of the cleantech sector. The same year he was named sustainable electricity "journalist of the year" by the Canadian Electricity Association. In 2008, he was named one of the most influential media personalities on green issues by Green Living Magazine. In 2005, Hamilton was recognized with a "Cleantech Pioneer Award" for being the first mainstream journalist in North America to have a column dedicated to clean technology and innovation coverage.
Hamilton was recently appointed an adjunct professor at York University's faculty of environmental studies, where he will assist in the creation of a new sustainable energy lab. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Lyne, and their two daughters Ruby and Claire.
Every once in a while, a book comes along which alters your opinion. This is one of those. Not only does it make you conversant on the main energy rescue systems, but it gives hope that maybe green isn't just a color, but a desirable objective.
This is a well written book by someone with personal knowledge of the current players in the energy field. Anyone who relies on the media for their knowledge of what is happening in the field of energy would be well served by reading this book.
Mr. Tylor Hamilton has analyzed 7 underdong green energy companies. All these companies are in different technology and have unique way to solve the energy problem. Author puts together balanced view on these companies. He has done in-depth research on each company. What I liked most is references bemeath each chapter so that it becomes easy for you to do your own research.
While chapters are good, few chapters are quite intersting from technology perspective. Chapter related to Capturing efficiancy through biomimicry provides in-depth idea how to copy natures desgins and why. Nature's design has in-built suistenability.
This book includes technologies such Space based solar power stations, Battery technology, Alage based bio fuels, Nuclear power, and Tornado Power. It is worth read for everyone interested in energy sector.
