by Jon Gernter. (Get the Book)Gertner, a writer and editor who grew up in the shadows of Bell Labs' campus in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, describes the beginning of modern communications primarily between the late 1930s and the mid-1970s through the lenses of several executives and scientists. Their collective stories present an extraordinary picture of a company focused on innovation. The intent of Bell Labs (Bell Telephone Laboratories) was to support the research and development of its parent, AT&T, which sought universal connectivity in the early 1900s and in 75 years realized that dream. Bell Labs became the laboratory of the future. This is where new ideas were transformed into inventions that changed the world, such as the transistor in 1947, the essential building block of all digital products in contemporary life. Other inventions included lasers and information technologies incorporated into computers, communications, factory-productivity methods, and defense weaponry. This is a worthwhile book for history buffs and for many library patrons intrigued by the origins of our technology-driven world. --Booklist
