Thomas Edison and the Light Bulb: Beyond the Myth

Thomas Edison is often seen as a self-taught genius, but his education was significantly influenced by his mother, a teacher. Myths about his minimal sleep and hearing loss have been perpetuated, often by Edison himself, to enhance his image. Despite claims of sleeping only a few hours, Edison was frequently photographed napping. His hearing loss stories range from dramatic tales of railroad accidents to more plausible causes like ear infections. Edison's mythmaking was a marketing strategy to promote his inventions and persona, leading to a legendary status that historians must carefully scrutinize.

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