From a hod to an odd EM wave: A memoir of engineering persistence and human discovery (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781918868258)

What does it take to go from hauling bricks at fifteen to uncovering a previously unknown electromagnetic wave?

In From a Hod to an Odd EM Wave, the author strips away the myth of the solitary genius and reveals the messy, human reality behind technical breakthroughs. Spanning continents, decades, and disciplines, this memoir charts an unconventional engineering life where persistence meets curiosity.

You'll walk gritty construction sites, navigate the subtle politics of research laboratories, and witness the ethical crossroads that shape real-world innovation. Along the way, you'll meet unforgettable figures-from Rudolf Vrba, one of only four Auschwitz survivors to escape and later collaborate at the Medical Research Council, to the quietly forgotten children marked by Thalidomide, and a woman unjustly confined by a system that mistook refinement for illness.

Blending sharp humor with unflinching honesty, this book isn't just about circuits, equations, or patents. It's about the human dimension of engineering: the conversations, compromises, and quiet courage that turn observation into discovery. Whether you're an engineer, a historian of science, or simply someone who believes every great breakthrough begins with a person, this memoir offers a rare, ground-level view of how progress actually happens.

Step into the real world behind the white coat. Discover how an unlikely career reshaped what we know about the invisible forces that connect us all.