If you like technology entrepreneurship stories, you’ll love Copies in Seconds by David Owen.  I just finished it and almost literally, could not put it down.

It’s about Chester Carlson, the inventor of the copy machine.  It’s easy to read, and is full if interesting technology and business details without being boring.  The introduction of the legendary 914 copier, and the story of rapid, out-of-control growth (in the early 60s) should sound familiar to any Internet entrepreneur.

It’s full of hilarious and quirky details, like the time an FTC official complained about over-representing the product’s capabilities (specficially, the ability to copy onto plain paper) and they responded by sending him back his letter copied onto a brown paper bag.  Or how the salesmen would show the copy speed by copying a stopwatch.

Great book, highly recommended.