Summary of Erik Larson's Thunderstruck

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The story of the debate between Lodge and Einstein began at the Royal Institution in London in 1894. Lodge was a professor of physics at the new University College of Liverpool, and his laboratory was housed in a space that had been the padded cell of a lunatic asylum. He seemed the embodiment of established British science. #2 The Royal Institution became a sacred place for Lodge, where he could put nature’s secrets on display. He was also asked to deliver Friday Evening Discourses, and he reveled in the opportunity to put theoretical science on display. #3 One of Lodge’s greatest distractions was the world of the supernatural. He was a member of the Society for Psychical Research, which was dedicated to examining paranormal events without prejudice or prepossession. #4 Lodge had a deep respect for Hertz, and he was convinced that if not for his fatal propensity for distraction, he might have beaten Hertz to the history books. He spoke about Hertz’s experiments at the Royal Institution, but instead of pursuing them to conclusion, he left for a vacation in Europe.