Pick problems that are nearly impossible to solve. Pick problems that arise from sensing deep and possibly unarticulated human needs. Pick problems that will draw on the diversity of human knowledge for their solution. And where that knowledge is inadequate, fill the gaps with basic scientific exploration. Involve all the members of the organization in this sense of adventure and accomplishment, so that a large part of life’s reward comes from this involvement.
This quote is attributed to Dr Edwin Land, founder of the
Polaroid Corporation and one of the greatest inventors of all time. While the
attribution to Land is well established, the quotation does not appear to
originate from a single published source. It is most likely drawn from internal
speeches or memoranda delivered by Land within Polaroid, reflecting his deeply
held philosophy rather than a polished public statement.
Ronald K. Fierstein’s book is aptly titled A Triumph of
Genius.
Among the many biographies I have read about exceptional
individuals, few come as close to a true portrait of genius as this account of
Edwin Land. A prolific inventor with more than five hundred patents to his
name, Land ranked in his time just behind figures such as Edison and Thomson in
sheer inventive output. Beyond this, he was also a pioneer at the intersection
of technology and the arts, an area he believed was essential to human
progress.
The book traces Land’s early life as an inventor, beginning
with his development of polarizing filters, technology that most of us now use
daily in products such as sunglasses and car headlights. It also covers his
critical role during the Second World War, when he supported Allied war efforts
through innovations in optics, including camera systems used on bomber flights
and other advanced military photographic equipment.
A substantial portion of the book focuses on Polaroid’s efforts in developing instant photography during the second half of the twentieth century. Fierstein goes into impressive detail explaining the foundational science behind instant cameras and films, effectively showing how an entire darkroom was compressed into a small, handheld device. The chemistry and engineering that the researchers and industrialists brought together in the iconic Polaroid camera is nothing short of genius.
I was reminded of John Collison’s post that the World is a Museum of Passion projects.
This section is one of the most rewarding parts of the book,
not only for its scientific clarity but also for its vivid character sketches
of Land and the many researchers and executives who helped bring these ideas to
life.
The majority of the book, however, concentrates on the
landmark intellectual property litigation between Polaroid and Kodak. This
section is equally compelling, offering portraits not just of technologists,
but also of senior business leaders, lawyers, and judges involved in one of the
most consequential patent cases of the late twentieth century. Written by a
junior lawyer on the Polaroid legal team, the narrative provides a rare inside
view of the legal process, capturing both its brilliance and its unpredictability.
As the book itself states, A Triumph of Genius chronicles, in an
unprecedented insider account, Polaroid’s legal battle with Kodak, a case whose
outcome continues to shape how technological innovation is protected well into
the twenty first century.
For me, the deepest satisfaction came from reading about the
nature of genius itself and from being inspired by Edwin Land’s philosophy of
life and work. Much can be learned from his outlook. One of Land’s personal
mottos was “to do what no one else could do”, a principle he lived by
consistently.
He stands among those rare figures who combined reclusive
brilliance with an ability to perform as a consummate showman when required. He
was a true scientist who understood the importance of art and beauty, and who
made it his mission to bring beauty into the everyday life.
Steve Jobs is often described as having a reality distortion
field, an ability to bend the possible through sheer force of belief. Edwin
Land can be seen as his intellectual, commercial and technologist predecessor.
It was said of Land that people who worked with him became experts, and that
difficult or seemingly impossible problems appeared to yield in his presence.
“My whole life has been spent trying to teach people that
intense concentration for hour after hour can bring about in people resources
they did not know they had” Land once said. This belief runs like a quiet
undercurrent throughout the book.
Fierstein’s work is meticulously researched and does genuine
justice to the complexity of genius. At the same time, having been immersed in
the crucible of the Polaroid Kodak patent battle, he excels at portraying the
legal and business personalities involved. I particularly enjoyed reading about
Judge Rya Zobel, the sharp and fair minded judge who presided over the trial,
as well as Herb Schwartz, lead counsel for Polaroid. The portrayals of Kodak
executives Louis Eilers and Walter Fallon were also intriguing, especially in
showing how personal animosity toward Land played a role in decisions that
ultimately led to Kodak’s costly infringement loss.
In closing, George Bernard Shaw’s words feel especially fitting in describing Edwin Land:
There are those who look at things the way they are and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not.
A truly inspiring read. Such an inspiration, that I decided to indulge in his creation and recently purchased my Polaroid camera!
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