

#2401
Mentioned in 12 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 12 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 ![undefined]()

as the book used as inspiration for a movie on Bell Labs.

Jim O’Shaughnessy

88 snips
Michael Gibson & Danielle Strachman — The 1517 Rebellion (EP.279)
Mentioned by 

when discussing Bell Labs and its contributions to innovation.


David Senra

84 snips
#95 Claude Shannon
Mentioned by 

as the book that introduced him to Claude Shannon.


Jimmy Soni

50 snips
BTC188: Claude Shannon and Information Theory with Jimmy Soni (Bitcoin Podcast)
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

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

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
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

when discussing the culture of innovation at Bell Labs.

Joachim Groeger

Scenius or Genius?
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 ![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)
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
Recommended by ![undefined]()

for people interested in innovation, highlighting its relevance to current industry and innovation discussions.

Marc Levinson

The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger | Marc Levinson | BM1