The Strange Life of Nikola Tesla

As the foundational biography, O'Neill's work is crucial but must be read with awareness of its romanticized tone. The author’s personal connection gives vivid anecdotes and humanizes the often-remote subject. However, it sometimes leans into the myths and focuses heavily on the later, more sensational aspects of his life. Despite its flaws, it offers a compelling, chronological narrative and remains the primary source that established the dual image of Tesla as both a neglected hero and a misunderstood prophet.

John Jacob O'Neill (1889–1953) was an American science journalist for the New York Herald Tribune and winner of the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for reporting. He was one of the few journalists to gain access to Nikola Tesla in his later, secluded years.