From Space to Earth: The Story of Solar Electricity - Softcover

A vivid and fascinating historical account of the advances of photovoltaics on Earth. [Perlin's] book tells us the success story of the pioneers of solar cells, crediting them for their imagination and perseverance. Presenting the history of the development of photovoltaic cells in such a personalized manner makes it a much more lively and interesting read than a mere technical account would have done. -- Michael Grazel Nature John Perlin's delightful historical tour through the development of photovoltaics answers not only the question of what is new under the sun, but most importantly, how we got here...It's the best and most readable book on the social history of photovoltaics research, policy, and market growth. -- Daniel M. Kammen Whole Earth

"From Space to Earth" tracks the evolution of the technology of photovoltaics, the use of solar cells to convert the sun's energy into electricity. John Perlin's painstaking research results in a fascinating account of the development of this technology, from its shaky nineteenth-century beginnings mired in scientific controversy to its high-visibility success in the space program, to its current position as a versatile and promising power source.