Stormy Genius: The Life of Aviation's Maverick Bill Lear - Hardcover

Rashke, Richard L.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0395353726 ISBN 13: 9780395353721

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1985

Synopsis

The author recounts her visit to South Africa where she interviewed numerous young people, both black and white, to find out what growing up is like in a country torn apart by racial strife

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Reviews

"Bill stirred men's blood," said one of Lear's employees, and after reading this spirited biography by the author of The Killing of Karen Silkwood, the reader understands why. Although lacking formal education, especially in science, Lear was an inventive genius, his interests ranging from radio to airplanes, wire recorders, prefabricated homes and steam-powered cars. His 150 patents included a radio direction finder and an automatic pilot for planes, and the eight-track tape, designed originally for automobile stereos. And, while he focused on his invention of the moment with monomaniacal intensity, Lear found time to contract four marriages, sire seven children and have many mistresses, some for years. A stubborn, opinionated, difficult man who made and lost several fortunes, his technological intuition rarely led him astray, although he was ill-suited to manage his various companies. His life story is absorbing. Photos not seen by PW. November 13
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Thoroughly and carefully documented through articles and researched through personal interviews, this is a factual but readable account of the life of Bill Lear, the very productive, controversial engineer and inventor. Among his achievements were improvements in automobile radios, new or improved aircraft instruments, magnetic sound recording systems, magnetic tape cartridge players, jet engine systems, and light-duty jet aircraft. Rashke, author of The Killing of Karen Silkwood ( LJ 5/1/81), provides great insight into Lear's creative and inventive success, his entrepreneurial style, and his disruptive personal life. Enthusiastically recommended. William A. McIntyre, N.H. Vocational-Technical Coll. Lib., Nashua
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• Publication date: 1985
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0395353726
• ISBN 13: 9780395353721
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 401