James D. Livingston

Driving Force unfolds the long and colorful history of magnets: how they guided (or misguided) Columbus; mesmerized eighteenth-century Paris but failed to fool Benjamin Franklin; lifted AC power over its rival, DC, despite all the animals, one human among them, executed along the way; led Einstein to the theory of relativity; helped defeat Hitler’s U-boats; inspired writers from Plato to Dave Barry. In a way that will delight and instruct even the nonmathematical among us, Driving Force shows us how scientists today are creating magnets and superconductors that can levitate high-speed trains, produce images of our internal organs, steer high-energy particles in giant accelerators, and--last but not least--heat our morning coffee.


“This book will delight people interested in science and surprise people that thought science was dull.”

“Informative, well laid out, and enjoyable. Highly recommended.”

“A stimulating mix of science, history, and technology.”

“If you talk about science to young people in the schools, Driving Force can provide stories and ideas for any level from preschool to university.”

“For the science teacher, I cannot think of a better way to integrate all disciplines of math and life and physical sciences than this book.”

“Covering subjects ranging from the science of magnetic forces to that great magnet in the sky, our planet, to the fakes who assure you that magnets will improve your wine and your sexual prowess, Livingston has written a book that is easy, entertaining, and often fascinating.”

“The book is a ‘must’ read for anybody who has an interest in cow magnets.”