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The Idea Factory

by Jon Gertner · 2012

Jon Gertner's history of Bell Labs and the research culture behind many foundational communications technologies.

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Jon Gertner · Technology writer

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Some books matter because the author has done rare work in the real world. We show that separately from who recommended the book.

Jon GertnerTechnology writer

Author of The Idea Factory.

Recommended by, documented so far

The Idea Factory appears in 1 currently documented source-backed recommendation.

Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook F8 in 2019 Mark Zuckerberg Co-founder and CEO, Meta
Recommended Reported Facebook book club recommendation article

Documented citation: Very interested in what causes innovation - what kinds of people, questions, and environments.

Documented citation Recommended article Why Mark Zuckerberg wants everyone to read about the lab that has won the most Nobel Prizes

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Business Insider · 2015-11-09 · accessed 2026-06-20

Business Insider reported that Zuckerberg chose The Idea Factory for A Year of Books and quoted his personal Facebook explanation about being interested in the people, questions, and environments that cause innovation.

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Recommended · Reported Facebook book club recommendation · article Source 2015-11-09
AmazonAudibleAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details