In "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," author John Berendt explores the life of inventor Eli Whitney, who meticulously safeguarded his cotton gin invention during the patent application process. However, he made a significant misstep by permitting women to inspect the device, inadvertently exposing it to potential competitors. This lapse in judgement could have jeopardized his invention's protection.
The narrative illustrates the delicate balance between innovation and secrecy, highlighting...