Written by Ronald Fierstein, who as a young lawyer was part of Polaroid’s team during the legendary trial, this book is the result of an extensive research and deep understanding of the life and work of Edwin Land, a remarkable individual and a visionaire in the true sense of the word. It was fascinating to read about the process of creation of the Polaroid technologies, especially so-called one-step photography. Apparently, Land was an inspiration to Steve Jobs, and it’s easy to see why. The parallels between Land’s career and way of conducting business and those of Steve Jobs are remarkable, and become more apparent as the book progresses.

 

(All of this makes me wonder if we will soon be getting a biopic about Edwin Land. Hollywood loves individual geniuses and success stories, and Land’s story is ripe with dramatic potential.)

 

The description of the so-called patent wars is maybe a bit too detailed and exhaustive for laypeople, but I expect it will be of major interest for those who study law or who hope to enter the business world of technology. As someone who studied photography and is still fascinated by both the art and technology, I was interested in the technical descriptions, but the book lost me a bit during the meanders of law. Not always: it can be engrossing to try to understand the convoluted world of United States law, but the repetition of facts and the grinding process can get a bit tiring for the layman.

 

Nevertheless, this book is a fascinating read for those interested in the history of photography, law, and entrepreneurship.