This book tells the story of the period at the end of the 1950s and beginning of the 1960s when the established science behind masers (microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) was used as the basis for research into how to make an optical version - what we now call a laser. The 'race' to develop the first working laser was between various different research laboratories in the USA, some government funded, some based in universities and some being the research arms of large corporations such as Hughes and AT&T.

There is a basic outline of the science involved, built into the story, but much of the story is about personalities, difficulties with obtaining the right equipment, getting papers published, getting security clearances for government funded (and classified) research. I found it interesting, and I think it gives a flavour of how new technologies are developed (or at least, how it was done 60 years ago!). The first working laser consisted of a ruby rod with silvered ends inside the coiled tube of a commercially available flash bulb. That description (and the photos of the thing) make it sound deceptively simple - this book makes it clear that it was not.

However, unlike books by Dawkins or similar, who can make things interesting even if you thought you weren't really interested to start with, I think you have to be interested in this topic to enjoy the book. It is also full of 'dead white males' (well, they are not all dead yet, but that's the phrase!). The only females mentioned are a couple of wives and one female colleague. However that is probably more a reflection of the misogynistic state of science at the time rather than any fault of the author.

This review is of the paperback edition. The hardback edition was first published in 2005.