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informative
This was mentioned at book club as an interesting read - so I put it on hold at the library. It became available just as I was deciding to attempt a "non-fiction November" (not solely, but dominantly).
This had a bit of a textbook feel, much more historical/factual than a story. Starting with the discovery of his body at sea, then going back to his childhood, his education, his discoveries, etc ... I struggled a bit at the start, as while I was expecting the focus and background of Rudolf Diesel, when it shifted and then began the background of others (Kaiser Wilhelm II, John D. Rockefeller) and we also get their background and buildup (the author indicates that these two, plus Churchill and Rudolf, are essential to understanding the time leading up to WW1, and the Diesel "collided" with Rockefeller and Wilhelm, a tycoon and an emperor ... and even early starts to allude to them possibly being behind Diesel's death).
I'd also just watched "The Dropout"(fictionalized series based on true events of Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos) and a documentary, as well as having listened to [book:Thicker Than Water: The Untold Story of the Theranos Whistleblower|55649203] ... and so I think I zeroed in much more on the process of inventing, testing, showing prototypes, getting investors and patents, etc ... than I might have otherwise. Diesel and Holmes both seemed to want to "change the world" with their inventions.
Lots of interesting stuff - historical ... the time frame before WW1 isn't written about as much as WW2 (so many on the subject, every angle). The science of discovery and the information on the diesel engine, which I'll admit I didn't know much about (Hubs truck is diesel).
The final portion ... delving more into guesses and conspiracy, left me lacking ... especially after everything had been so factual up to that point. I guess ultimately, no one really knows? The author seems to be leaning toward certain conclusions, but I didn't feel there were any true facts to support for sure.
I listened to the audio, and it was fine. I had been able to get the Kindle copy as well, and needed to refer to it a few times (there when the shift went from Diesel to suddenly feature other people, I wasn't sure if I'd missed something ...) I feel like I might have made some highlights and notes, had I been reading the Kindle copy.
I do appreciate the information I learned, historical and about the diesel engine.
This had a bit of a textbook feel, much more historical/factual than a story. Starting with the discovery of his body at sea, then going back to his childhood, his education, his discoveries, etc ... I struggled a bit at the start, as while I was expecting the focus and background of Rudolf Diesel, when it shifted and then began the background of others (Kaiser Wilhelm II, John D. Rockefeller) and we also get their background and buildup (the author indicates that these two, plus Churchill and Rudolf, are essential to understanding the time leading up to WW1, and the Diesel "collided" with Rockefeller and Wilhelm, a tycoon and an emperor ... and even early starts to allude to them possibly being behind Diesel's death).
I'd also just watched "The Dropout"(fictionalized series based on true events of Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos) and a documentary, as well as having listened to [book:Thicker Than Water: The Untold Story of the Theranos Whistleblower|55649203] ... and so I think I zeroed in much more on the process of inventing, testing, showing prototypes, getting investors and patents, etc ... than I might have otherwise. Diesel and Holmes both seemed to want to "change the world" with their inventions.
Lots of interesting stuff - historical ... the time frame before WW1 isn't written about as much as WW2 (so many on the subject, every angle). The science of discovery and the information on the diesel engine, which I'll admit I didn't know much about (Hubs truck is diesel).
The final portion ... delving more into guesses and conspiracy, left me lacking ... especially after everything had been so factual up to that point. I guess ultimately, no one really knows? The author seems to be leaning toward certain conclusions, but I didn't feel there were any true facts to support for sure.
I listened to the audio, and it was fine. I had been able to get the Kindle copy as well, and needed to refer to it a few times (there when the shift went from Diesel to suddenly feature other people, I wasn't sure if I'd missed something ...) I feel like I might have made some highlights and notes, had I been reading the Kindle copy.
I do appreciate the information I learned, historical and about the diesel engine.