![Amazon prime logo](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/marketing/prime/new_prime_logo_RGB_blue._CB426090081_.png)
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Amazon Prime includes:
Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.
Amazon Prime members enjoy:- Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
- Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
- Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
- A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
- Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
- Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access
Important: Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.
Learn more
1.27 mi | ASHBURN 20147
![Kindle app logo image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/kindle/app/kindle-app-logo._CB668847749_.png)
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Pieces of the Action Hardcover – June 28, 2022
![iphone with kindle app](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/kindle/dp/nfcx/PersistentWidget-Ruby-Large._CB485955431_.png)
Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.
View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.
Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.
Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Purchase options and add-ons
Over a 60-year career in public affairs, Vannevar Bush—engineer, inventor, educator, and public face of government-funded science—sought to eliminate roadblocks to innovation in science and technology. In Pieces of the Action, a collection of memoir-essays, he reflects on his role in shaping the policies and organizations that powered American research and development in the mid-20th century.
As the architect and administrator of an R&D pipeline that efficiently coordinated the work of civilian scientists and the military during World War II, he was central to catalyzing the development of radar and the proximity fuze, the mass production of penicillin, and the initiation of the Manhattan Project. Pieces of the Action offers his hard-won lessons on how to operate and manage effectively within complex organizations, build bridges between people and disciplines, and drive ambitious, unprecedented programs to fruition. With wry humor, Bush also shares personal observations and anecdotes—pelting cows with apples, poking fun at servicemen who tried to keep his own invention secret from him—that offer a glimpse of the personality behind the accolades.
Originally published in 1970, this updated edition includes 15 archival images from Bush’s life and career and a foreword from entrepreneur and Idea Machines podcast host Ben Reinhardt that contextualizes the lessons Pieces of the Action can offer to contemporary readers: that change depends both on heroic individuals and effective organizations; that a leader’s job is one of coordination; and that the path from idea to innovation is a long and winding one, inextricably bound to those involved—those enduring figures who have a piece of the action.
- Print length376 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherStripe Press
- Publication dateJune 28, 2022
- Dimensions6.25 x 1.25 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101953953204
- ISBN-13978-1953953209
Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more
Frequently bought together
![Pieces of the Action](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81MayWqGA4L._AC_UL116_SR116,116_.jpg)
Customers who bought this item also bought
- The Big Score: The Billion Dollar Story of Silicon ValleyHardcoverFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Thursday, Aug 15
- Where Is My Flying Car?HardcoverFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Thursday, Aug 15
- The Art of Doing Science and Engineering: Learning to LearnHardcoverFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Thursday, Aug 15
- The Dream MachineHardcoverFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Thursday, Aug 15
- High Growth Handbook: Scaling Startups from 10 to 10,000 PeopleHardcoverFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Thursday, Aug 15
- Scientific Freedom: The Elixir of CivilizationDonald W. BrabenHardcoverFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Thursday, Aug 15
From the Publisher
![research development biography scientist national science foundation wwii engineering technology](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media-library-service-media/d1c14197-9eac-4977-a125-8d1f4a36a3ab.__CR0,0,970,300_PT0_SX970_V1___.jpg)
Praise for Pieces of the Action
|
|
|
---|---|---|
A front-row seat to the most important R&D work of the 20th century.“Scientific and technological progress depend crucially on leadership. Bush understood this better than anyone, and he had a front-row seat to the most important R&D work of the 20th century. This candid memoir gave me a better understanding of how research leadership works and why it’s desperately needed.” —Jason Crawford, writer at The Roots of Progress |
Great things can be built in spite of stagnation . . . through determination and foresight.“Pieces of the Action provides a window into the way Bush saw himself: as part of a larger cultural tradition, equipping new generations with knowledge from past ones. I came away inspired by the knowledge that great things can be built in spite of stagnation, rigid norms, and conventions, through the determination and foresight of people who work to change institutions.” —Saloni Dattani, cofounder and editor of Works in Progress and researcher at Our World in Data |
At the nexus of an astounding number of people and events that shaped the modern world.“It’s hard to deny that Vannevar Bush was at the nexus of an astounding number of people and events that shaped the modern world. In Pieces of the Action, he works hard to give us a window into his thought processes, and from them distill timeless lessons about leadership, research, institution building, and human nature.” —Ben Reinhardt, CEO of PARPA, researcher at the Astera Institute, and host of the Idea Machines podcast |
|
|
|
---|---|---|
A view of scientific development that is anything but linear."One comes away with a view of scientific development that is anything but linear: the gravitational weight of historical contingencies, idiosyncratic personnel, and key management decisions described in Pieces of the Action continue to profoundly impact us today.” —Caleb Watney, cofounder and co-CEO of the Institute for Progress |
Catalogs the scientists and engineers who were pivotal to an Allied victory in World War II.“Pieces of the Action catalogs the scientists and engineers who were pivotal to an Allied victory in World War II—and how the ad-hoc organizations born out of that crisis ultimately provided the blueprints for our modern scientific institutions.” —Alec Stapp, cofounder and co-CEO of the Institute for Progress |
Not just about science and innovation, but about state capacity.“Pieces of the Action is not just about science and innovation, it’s about state capacity. Anyone who longs for renewed, effective institutions will find the wisdom of a kindred spirit reflecting on how to build them.” —Eli Dourado, economist and senior research fellow at the Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University |
![Vannevar Bush](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media-library-service-media/f722496c-d817-4340-b44e-5ef0bd3dab60.__CR0,352,3776,3776_PT0_SX300_V1___.jpg)
About the author
Vannevar Bush (1890–1974) was an engineer, inventor, and architect of public-sector funding for scientific research. As chairman of the U.S. National Defense Research Committee and director of the U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development during World War II, he oversaw a wide-ranging R&D program that paired government funding with scientific research, resulting in the development of radar and the initiation of the Manhattan Project. He conducted foundational research in computer science, including the invention of the differential analyzer. He served as vice president of MIT and first dean of the MIT School of Engineering, president of the Carnegie Institute of Washington, and chairman of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. His 1945 essay “As We May Think” is credited with anticipating aspects of personal computing and the internet, while his government report Science, The Endless Frontier laid the groundwork for the founding of the National Science Foundation.
![ideas, innovation, technology, computer science, ideas for change](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media-library-service-media/a557a3b6-7373-4cb5-b5a5-cb01eed4db10.__CR0,0,300,300_PT0_SX300_V1___.png)
About the publisher
Stripe Press publishes books about economic, technological, and scientific advancement. Stripe partners with hundreds of thousands of the world’s most innovative businesses—organizations that will shape the world of tomorrow. These businesses are the result of many different inputs. Perhaps the most important ingredient is "ideas." Stripe Press highlights ideas that we think can be broadly useful. Some books contain entirely new material, some are collections of existing work reimagined, and others are republications of previous works that have remained relevant over time or have renewed relevance today.
Related titles by Stripe Press:
- The Dream Machine by M. Mitchell Waldrop
- The Art of Doing Science and Engineering by Richard W. Hamming
- An Elegant Puzzle by Will Larson
- The Big Score by Michael S. Malone
Editorial Reviews
Review
—Jason Crawford, writer at The Roots of Progress
“Pieces of the Action provides a window into the way Bush saw himself―not as a great man or leader, but as part of a larger cultural tradition, equipping new generations with knowledge from past ones. I came away encouraged and inspired by the knowledge that great things can be built in spite of stagnation, rigid norms, and conventions, through the determination and foresight of people who work to change institutions―and build new ones, too.”
—Saloni Dattani, cofounder and editor of Works in Progress and researcher at Our World in Data
“Pieces of the Action is not just about science and innovation, it’s about state capacity. Anyone who longs for renewed, effective institutions will find the wisdom of a kindred spirit reflecting on how to build them.”
—Eli Dourado, economist and senior research fellow at the Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University
“It’s hard to deny that Vannevar Bush was at the nexus of an astounding number of people and events that shaped the modern world. In Pieces of the Action, he works hard to give us a window into his thought processes, and from them distill timeless lessons about leadership, research, institution building, and human nature. Bush was a scientist, a statesman, an entrepreneur, a tinkerer, a leader, an educator, and an excellent storyteller, and Pieces of the Action has a yarn and a lesson for everyone.”
—Ben Reinhardt, CEO of PARPA, researcher at the Astera Institute, and host of the Idea Machines podcast
“Pieces of the Action catalogs the scientists and engineers who were pivotal to an Allied victory in World War II―and how the ad-hoc organizations born out of that crisis ultimately provided the blueprints for our modern scientific institutions. If you want to understand the ‘man in the arena’ at the center of it all, this discursive, blunt, and often funny memoir is the best place to start.”
—Alec Stapp, cofounder and co-CEO of the Institute for Progress
“Written without pretension. . . this volume will richly reward readers from a wide variety of fields―science, engineering, industry, education, the military, politics, and public and business administration.”
—Irvin Stewart, Science
“Pieces of the Action is an often-whimsical ride through time and the mind of the man whose insight, strategic instincts, and institutional empire-building formed the basis of the modern scientific state. One comes away with a view of scientific development that is anything but linear: the gravitational weight of historical contingencies, idiosyncratic personnel, and key management decisions described in Pieces of the Action continue to profoundly impact us today.”
—Caleb Watney, cofounder and co-CEO of the Institute for Progress
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Stripe Press; Second edition (June 28, 2022)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 376 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1953953204
- ISBN-13 : 978-1953953209
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.25 x 1.25 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #84,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #18 in Computing Industry History
- #92 in Social Aspects of Technology
- #202 in Scientist Biographies
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
![Vannevar Bush](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/I/01Kv-W2ysOL._SY600_.png)
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonTop reviews from other countries
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/default._CR0,0,1024,1024_SX48_.png)