Thought provoking. Chandler develops the history of the consumer electronics and computer industries with the questioning attitude of a teacher: always searching for the lessons behind the story. -- Andrew S. Grove, Chairman of the Board, Intel Offers a rich cast of characters and companies, compelling stories, and deep understanding of economic forces. -- Hal Varian, School of Information Management and Systems, University of California, Berkeley

Consumer electronics and computers redefined life and work in the twentieth century. In Inventing the Electronic Century, Pulitzer Prize–winning business historian Alfred D. Chandler, Jr., traces their origins and worldwide development. From electronics prime mover RCA in the 1920s to Sony and Matsushita’s dramatic rise in the 1970s; from IBM’s dominance in computer technology in the 1950s to Microsoft’s stunning example of the creation of competitive advantage, this masterful analysis is essential reading for every manager and student of technology.