author
Thomas M. (Thomas Matthew) St. John
b. 1865
A clear, practical writer on early electrical science, best known for turning complicated ideas into hands-on projects for young readers and hobbyists. His books helped make electricity, magnetism, motors, and wireless telegraphy feel approachable at a time when those subjects still seemed wonderfully new.
3 Audiobooks
The Study of Elementary Electricity and Magnetism by Experiment Containing Two Hundred Experiments Performed with Simple, Home-made Apparatus
by Thomas M. (Thomas Matthew) St. John
Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity Second Edition
by Thomas M. (Thomas Matthew) St. John
About the author
Thomas M. St. John, also identified in library and public-domain records as Thomas Matthew St. John, was an American technical writer born in 1865. He is remembered for instructional books that introduced readers to electricity through simple experiments and homemade apparatus.
His best-known works include How Two Boys Made Their Own Electrical Apparatus, Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity, The Study of Elementary Electricity and Magnetism by Experiment, Study of Electric Motors by Experiment, and Wireless Telegraphy for Amateurs and Students. Across these books, he focused on practical learning: building devices, observing results, and gaining confidence through experiment rather than abstract theory alone.
That straightforward, do-it-yourself style makes his work still feel lively today. Even when the technology is dated, the spirit of curiosity behind it remains easy to enjoy, especially for listeners interested in the early popular teaching of science and electrical engineering.