The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth

Have you ever wondered who invented television? Would you be surprised that a 14-year-old boy got the idea as he was plowing the fields on the family farm in Idaho? Philo T. Farnsworth later took his idea of how to send pictures through the air and turned it into television. This book inspires kids to take their ideas to fruition and not to give up even in the face of discouragement.

My grandfather worked with Farnsworth. It’s a fairly accurate take on Farnsworths life, from what I’ve heard and read. Second/third grade and up unless you are a family of avid readers. They don’t get too into the later rough patches in his life, which is preferable in my opinion for a children’s book.

Philo Farnsworth invented the first all-electronic television system, a fact that few people today know. A small museum in Ft Wayne used to exist to honor him with items related to his invention of the TV and his company, Capehart-Farnsworth which produced televisions until 1965. As a small player in the industry when compared with Farnsworth’s longtime rival, RCA, it could not complte. Then, when the small Ft Wayne museum went out of business, the museum contents were moved and displayed for a short time in the nearby WWII museum. On a visit, I noted they were gone. When I asked what happened, I was told they were sold on e-bay!!. Most visitors probably had no idea who Philo was and his importance in history. This American technical prodigy was poorly treated and this book tells part of the story. I am glad, though, that through this book young people can at least learn a little about Philo and what he did. This book should have gone into much more detail, but as a children book, although accurate, did not tell the whole, very sad, story, of how he was treated by the courts, the government and RCA.

Philo Farnsworth should be a household name. This book will help my grandchildren get to know him before television goes into the ashheap of history. Have encountered some of his descendants, & they are every bit as nice in person as in this great narrative

I bought the book because it is the story of a relative of my husband and I wanted my grandchildren to know about it. It’s a great book and arrived here very quickly.

My kids loved it, very informative and inspiring, my son was very moved by the book. I recommend it for your summer reading list.

I like books with history in it. Its a good book for children to read that also gives them some history of where and how TV was invented

My daughter needed to do a report on something that has changed over the years. She finally picked a television. So far her report is coming along. Seems like an informative book.

Bought this for a yr 4 class in primary school and they found it very interesting.

great