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The Story of Polaroid

ebook
2 of 2 copies available
2 of 2 copies available
"Pictures in a minute!" In the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, Polaroid was the hottest technology company on Earth. They were an innovation machine that cranked out one irresistible product after another. It was even the company after which Steve Jobs is said to have modeled Apple, and the comparison is true. Jobs's hero, Edwin Land, Polaroid's visionary founder, turned his 1937 garage startup into a billion-dollar pop-culture phenomenon. Instant: The Story of Polaroid, a richly illustrated, behind-the-scenes look at the company, tells the tale of Land's extraordinary and beloved invention. From the introduction of Polaroid's first instant camera in 1948 to its meteoric rise and dramatic collapse into bankruptcy in the 2000s, Instant is both a cautionary tale about tech companies that lose their edge and a remarkable story of American ingenuity. Written in a breezy, accessible tone by New York magazine senior editor Chris Bonanos, this first book-length history of Polaroid also features colorful illustrations from Polaroid's history, including the company's iconic branding and marketing efforts.
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    • Publisher's Weekly

      September 3, 2012
      Bonanos, a senior editor at New York magazine, offers up a concise and in-depth cultural history of Polaroid and its brilliant and charismatic leader, Edwin Land. Amidst its carefully constructed narrative of Polaroid's rise, demise, and renaissance (Lady Gaga is currently the company's creative director), Bonanos lays out the effect Polaroid has had on the cultural fabric of the United States, from brand identity and advertising copy, to hip hop lyrics and the sexual revolution. The history begins with Polaroid's wartime beginnings in polarizing technology and synthetically produced quinine. Instant photography was something of a side-business to begin with, but it soon took over the company's entire operation. But this is truly Land's story. Long before a turtle-necked Steve Jobs gave highly anticipated keynote speeches to reveal revolutionary new products, Land was penning stylized investor letters and predicting the smart phone. Indeed, these moments of cultural and technological premonition are among the book's most fascinating. Bonanos can be excessively reverential and heavy-handed, but Land and Polaroid's story are remarkable nonetheless. Photos.

    • Library Journal

      August 1, 2012

      Remember Polaroid pictures? Bonanos (senior editor, New York magazine; Gods, Heroes, and Philosophers: A Celebration of All Things Greek) here tells the story of their creator, Edwin Land, and how he built a multibillion-dollar business from those instant photographs. Holder of over 500 patents, Land was the Steve Jobs of his day. A quick and interesting read, this work traces the history of the company, which began in 1932 by manufacturing polarizing film for car headlights and sunglasses. By the mid-1940s, photography was its main business. Unfortunately, things ended badly, with two bankruptcies, the final one in 2009. The company is now trying to reinvent itself, including manufacturing a new line of film that can be used by the famous cameras. The book includes some photos, though not nearly enough. The volume is enhanced by a helpful index and footnotes, but not so many as to be distracting. VERDICT A well-written book that will bring back fond memories of instant photography for many readers. Recommended.--Susan Hurst, Miami Univ. of Ohio Libs., Oxford

      Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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  • English

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