Nikola Tesla Books
Tesla's mind was like an electronic calculating machine. Even Steinmetz of General Electric consulted Dr. Tesla on mathematical problems. In some ways, he was absent minded. For example, he had been known to leave his briefcase in a txi cab. But this presented no particular problem to Tesla. Everytime he stepped into a cab, he would glance at the license plate number and expand it to the fifth power. This number he could always remember. In the event that he left an article in the cab, he would take the fifth root of the number he remembered and call the taxi company.
Tesla spoke and read a dozen or more languages. He received scientific magazines, papers, books and technical data from all parts of the world. He spent a great deal of time in the New York City Library. His entire life seemed unreal, like that of a " superman" who had been placed on earth for the benefit of all mankind. No individual ever became very close to Dr. Tesla, He remained aloof from all, although he did have many friends and admirers, particularly during the middle age period of his life. His own employees and machinists said that he possessed supernatural powers and that he could read their "thoughts". They treated him with great respect, knowing that if they did not follow his exact instruction, he would immediately find out.
After his discovery of high frequency voltage, he took regular "electrical baths" which he claimed increased his energy, killed all bacteria, burned out toxic poisons and stimulated the nerve ends of his body. He required only two or three hours of sleep each night and seldom ever took cat naps in between. This might have been due to the electrical regeneration of his body and the careful diet which he rigidly followed . In the early 1940's, when he was well past 80 years of age, he was hit by a taxi cab in New York City. It is said that he was hurled 35 to 40 feet by the impact, which would have probably killed a normal human being. Although he must have been very badly hurt, he walked away from this accident and returned to his hotel room where he remained many months without seeing anyone. Nor did he ever call a doctor.
Nikola Tesla stood more than six feet tall but he was very thin and slender. His hair was jet black and straight, gradually thinning out and turning gray with age. No one could look upon him without feeling his force. His eyes were light blue and looked tired, as though he viewed the world with eternal vigilence. He claimed that his eyes had been much darker but that using his mind a great deal, had made them many shades lighter. During the period of the gay 1890's, when he was considered one of the greatest scientists of all time, he wore a black mustache and his manners were very cordial. At social affairs, he always wore full dress with white gloves and a top hat. Everybody wanted to meet the great Dr. Tesla.
For many years, he entered the Waldorf dining room exactly at eight o'clock, attired in full dress. He usually ate alone at his reserved table in one corner of the room. Occasionally, he invited a guest to dine with him. During his dinner, he would read through two or three newspapers. Upon finishing around ten o-clock, he would return to his laboratory to work on through the night. Two or three times weekly, he would go to his barber and have his head rubbed for nearly half an hour. Now and then, he would attend a social affair or dine at Delmonico's famous restaurant. However, he cared little for social life. His entire existence was that of almost a hermit. He was never married, although he did enjoy the company of J. P.
