Robert Buderi has produced a work of impressive detail - a thoroughly documented account of the workings of the world's leading research labs. The book carefully follows the financial swings of the R&D effort, and closely examines the increasing pressure on researchers to turn a quick buck. The history of this critical economic component is probably unknown to most readers, and Buderi tells an engrossing tale. The book's one inescapable shortcoming, however, is the fact that Buderi finishes his story without a mention of the vast innovation currently sprouting from sources far afield of the Fortune 500. In addition, little mention is made of what makes some research efforts flourish while others fade. Nevertheless, we at getAbstract highly recommend Engines of Tomorrow as a book that rises beyond a simple corporate history to a study in human innovation.

Engines of Tomorrow by Robert Buderi provided a wonderful account of the historical developments in the Research and Development (R& D) industry. A diverse range of details was presented for the period of time encompassing the early days when Germany's, Bayer developed and controlled (by patent) numerous chemical related products/processes through the period that gave birth to IBM's massive portfolio of patents and research literature. I was rather enlightened to find out that the German dye industry of the mid 1800's was considered to be the seed in which research and development methodology began to grow from. The author surmised during that point in time many chemist and other innovators were seeking new formulations of dyes to color (silk) garments. It was noted that the methodology was predominately trial and error but the evaluation of formulation failures spurred further use of a methodical approach to development of new dyes and other byproducts. Specifically, individuals utilized many different elements and plants in their attempt to create a better lasting and/or new colored dye. As an indirect result, from the widespread efforts, useful chemicals were discovered, thereby giving rise to the pharmaceutical industry. It was the culmination of these events relating to the German dye industry that indirectly gave birth to the R & D industry of today.
Throughout the book fascinating details were revealed about the organizations and scientists that were instrumental in development of landmark technological innovations in R & D. For instance, there were several European companies like BASF and AGFA that developed chemical based products as a result of their pursuit of developing dyes. As mentioned earlier, Bayer was one of the prominent companies, which is known today for its aspirin and photographical products. A myriad of accounts from a variety of R & D leaders were given, a few, detailing the management decisions and strategies involving the early pioneers like Germany's Adolf Baeyer and several of IBM's notable research leaders Ralph Gomory and Thomas Watson. Information was given and the circumstances that contributed to the scientific advancements of other U.S led organizations like Bell Labs (AT&T); General Electric, Xerox, and General Motors; were discussed.
The discussion also related the economic, scientific, and strategic environment of the 1850's to the late 1990's to the R & D industry. Numerous highlights on the reasoning behind the creation and operations of the now famous global R & D labs were discussed. The author provided adequate information by devoting a chapter for discussing Intel; and Microsoft and devoting several chapters for the early organizational pioneers of R&D like IBM; Siemens; NEC; GE; BellLabs (AT&T); Xerox. The later chapters focused on Intel and Microsoft and their current undertakings in R & D. This provided a lead to the future of R&D as well as a contrasting approach of past economic and scientific innovations.
Overall, a comprehensive and interesting background was given. The historical facts were overwhelming but quite intriguing because the author maintained a dynamic pace. He continually alternated and elaborated on historical events, descriptions of industry leaders management philosophies, and discussing the details of significant innovations in the Research and Development Field. The historical information was very comprehensive and gives the reader a foundation and appreciation of the challenges that the past and present scientific and technological companies have and will face. On a practical note, the description about the past decisions made by the leaders offers lessons for the future.

Buderi explores the recent change of focus in research conducted in the U.S. American research during the 1950s and 60s enjoyed an unprecedented level of funding and latitude in pursuing projects. Basic research was lavishly funded by government agencies and many large corporations built ivory tower research organization that produced Nobel Laureates but not many commercial products. Corporate management has since taken a closer look at the R&D division; cost cutting and downsizing have dramatically changed top managements' perception of R&D. The days of the ivory tower are over and Buderi explores the radical mission changes at many R&D labs across the country. Through interviews with research managers the author gains some valuable information about how these business leaders view R&D, its role within the organization and their style of managing it. The author gives a detailed history of the corporate research division and discusses the attitudes and associated cultures being created at IBM, Siemens, NEC, GE, Bell Labs (Lucent), Xerox, HP, Intel and Microsoft.

The author takes the reader through a course of history dating from pre-WWII to the present on the evolution of not only radar development but also radio astronomy, transisters, digital computers and the radar maping of Earth, the Moon and Venus by radar. The writers style conforms to both the general reader and the technician. If you are interested in both history and electronics you will find this book enjoyable. It will also make excellant reference material to inventors names and dates for a great many electronic devices we take for granted today.

This book is really two books in one, the first being an outline of the development of radar immediately prior to and during World War II. This part takes up the first 245 pages of the book, is extremely well organized and plays out the complete development and deployment of radar during World War II. This early part takes you through the people and organizations that were behind radar's development, as well as a very top level view of the technology used to create the device. The author walks you through a very good description of radar's development on a global scale, outlining how the US and UK led the development, why Germany was only slightly further behind, and why Japan was so lagging. Mr. Buderi takes several major battles, including the Battle of Britain, the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Midway, and outlines the significance of radar in those battles and how it truly was the winning weapon of the war. This part of the book clearly rates 5 stars, and makes the whole text worth purchasing.

The second part of the book, which takes up the final 233 pages, is less organized and much less linear in its thought development. While this lack of organization does reflect the decentralization of radar development following WWII, it does not make this section any easier to read. While the development or radar as an astronomical tool, its deployment and adoption at civilian airports and the use of its underlying technologies in the development of integrated circuit are all significant, their depiction as essential parts of the story is lacking. The second part ranks 2 stars, and is good reference material, but should be read on a chapter by chapter basis, as that appears to be how they were written.

In summary, the first part is great - 5 stars, the second part was less a book, but more a stringing together of engineering stories and earned only 2 stars. I gave it a weighted average of 4.

Favorite Excerpts:

"I never read books - they interfere with thinking." - Paul Dirac to Robert Oppenheimer (page 48)

"It didn't make me more enemies than I cared about, because the enemies that you have to worry about are smart enemies, and smart people didn't get mad at me unless they had a good reason to." - George Valley Jr. (page 183)

"Some of my friends seemed to know every year model of every car, that seemed to me so temporary and uninteresting. Nature is such a permanent aspect of our universe, and so obviously God-made." -Charles Townes (page 336)

"We had the authority and influence that came from being indispensable." - Jay Forrester (page 397)

Before I read this book, I (like most technically minded people) knew of Los Alamos and the development of the atomic bomb, and had a vague impression that MIT was working on radar during this same time. What I *didn't* know was that radar development was an equally urgent crash program, with a similarly brilliant scientific staff (11 future Nobel prizes), and lots more practical applications. Furthermore, compared to Los Alamos, they faced and overcame many additional challenges - among them starting mass production of brand new technology, and convincing the military to change their doctrines based on new technical capabilities.

Like Rhodes's "The Making of the Atomic Bomb", the story is told in chronological order, mixing the human and technical aspects and conveying the urgency and suspense of a desperate wartime situation. Unlike Rhodes's book, it follows the people and technology further, showing how the (then young) scientists went on to fame and fortune, and how the technology has changed our daily life. The book is engrossing even for non-specialists - my wife (a chiropractor) picked it up to see what I found so fascinating, and I couldn't get it back!