Michael Faraday was a blacksmith's son who became one of the world's most honored scientists.

Apprenticed to a London bookbinder, Faraday received his start in science by presenting a well-bound book of Humphry Davy's lecture notes to Davy himself. Faraday also asked the famous scientist for an assistant's job—and got it.

That was only the beginning. Faraday went on to surpass Sir Humphry himself in scientific achievements. One question, however, had always bothered Faraday. He knew that a current-carrying wire set up a magnetic field around itself. Could that same magnetic field somehow produce an electric current?

When Faraday discovered that it could, the electric dynamo was born and widespread electrical power eventually became possible.

From the dust jacket