

#2299
Mentioned in 11 episodes
The Idea Factory
Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation
Book • 2012
The Idea Factory traces the origins of some of the twentieth century's most important inventions, such as the transistor, laser, digital communications, and cellular telephony.
The book focuses on the lives and work of brilliant and eccentric scientists like Mervin Kelly, Bill Shockley, Claude Shannon, John Pierce, and Bill Baker, who spent their careers at Bell Labs.
It delves into the organizational structure and strategies that enabled Bell Labs to sustain a golden age of innovation, including the physical layout designed for serendipitous interactions and the creation of courses to diffuse knowledge.
The book also distinguishes between 'invention' and 'innovation,' highlighting Bell Labs' involvement in the full vertical stack from theory to marketable products.
The book focuses on the lives and work of brilliant and eccentric scientists like Mervin Kelly, Bill Shockley, Claude Shannon, John Pierce, and Bill Baker, who spent their careers at Bell Labs.
It delves into the organizational structure and strategies that enabled Bell Labs to sustain a golden age of innovation, including the physical layout designed for serendipitous interactions and the creation of courses to diffuse knowledge.
The book also distinguishes between 'invention' and 'innovation,' highlighting Bell Labs' involvement in the full vertical stack from theory to marketable products.
Mentioned by























Mentioned in 11 episodes
Mentioned by 

as a book he enjoyed, focusing on Bell Labs' innovation.


Varun Mohan

653 snips
Building Windsurf with Varun Mohan
Mentioned by 

as a book he recently read, highlighting Bell Labs' history of innovation.


Jason Calacanis

221 snips
E159: The Bestie Awards! Recapping the best and worst of 2023
Mentioned by 

as a book detailing the history of Bell Labs and its contributions to semiconductor technology.


Jon Bathgate

126 snips
Complexity Investing & Semiconductors (with NZS Capital)
Mentioned by 

when discussing Bell Labs and its contributions to innovation.


David Senra

67 snips
#95 Claude Shannon
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

when talking about doing a documentary on Bell Labs and working with the author of the book to make the script for that movie.

Jim O’Shaughnessy

30 snips
Todd Rose — Are We Living in the Truman Show? (EP.270)
Mentioned by 

as the book that introduced him to Claude Shannon.


Jimmy Soni

27 snips
BTC188: Claude Shannon and Information Theory with Jimmy Soni (Bitcoin Podcast)
Mentioned by 

as the author of "The Ice at the End of the World" and "The Idea Factory".


William Green

25 snips
TTU147: How to Craft a Rich Life Beyond Money ft. William Green
Recommended by 

as the quintessential book on Bell Labs.


Jimmy Soni

22 snips
Jimmy Soni - Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, and the Paypal Mafia
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a source of inspiration about Bell Labs.

Doug Burger

21 snips
How Microsoft Research Balances Exploration and Impact Globally with Doug Burger
Mentioned by 

as an excellent book on the history of innovation at Bell Labs.


Tyler Cowen

18 snips
Conversations with Tyler 2022 Retrospective
Mentioned by 

as a book that inspired him to write about Claude Shannon.


Robert Breedlove

The Future of Tech and Money: AI, Bitcoin, and the PayPal Mafia with Jimmy Soni (WiM524)
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as another example of a model for corporate research, contrasting it with the model of open collaboration.

Albion Lawrence

Scientists Cooperate while Humanists Ruminate (EF, JP)
Mentioned by Lindsey Graham as the book written by the guest, John Gertner, about Bell Labs and American innovation.

Breaking Bell | Writer Jon Gertner discusses AT&T’s impact on technological innovation | 5
Mentioned by 

as a book about Bell Labs that inspired him to write about Claude Shannon.


Jimmy Soni

The scientist who made the digital world possible - Part 1
Recommandé par 

comme un livre passionnant sur l'histoire des Bell Labs et de l'innovation.


Cédric Villani

#95 Cédric Villani - Comment laisser une place au hasard pour découvrir des mondes incroyables ?
Recommended by 

as an incredible book about Bell Labs.


Ben Reinhart

DARPA and How to R&D Right