The Third Element gives a glimpse of the history of electronics from its beginnings in Biblical times up to the computer era, about 1980. Without burdening the reader with technical details, it gives an idea of some of the problems that the pioneers of this industry faced and how many of our marvelous electronic gadgets came into being. Electronics is just a further development of the electrical sciences; this book describes the contributions made by the earliest experimenters, leading up to the Lee de Forest's big moment of discovery of the triode vacuum tube, the cornerstone of the industry. The book stops short of the software aspects of modern electronics, but covers in some detail a few of the historic developments that have brought this huge industry to life. It brings out some interesting trivia - did you know: -there was no transcontinental telephone service until about 1915 when the electronic amplifier appeared? -about the Idaho farm boy who was judged to have invented modern television, taking RCA to court and winning? -two American inventors patented the telephone on the same day in 1876? Here is a fascinating look at the industry that probably has had a greater effect on our lives than any other scientific discovery in history. Read and enjoy it..