Book of Inventions

by Ian Harrison

Combining curious and colorful anecdotes with intricate research and photographs, National Geographic presents a fact-filled and lively history of inventions and their inventors. With a creative and humorous approach to reference, The Book of Inventions is a spirited and engaging look at knowledge and history.

From the tiny paperclip to the massive jet engine, and from mastermind Leonardo da Vinci to quirky vacuum-cleaner inventor James Dyson, The Book of Inventions is encyclopedic in scope and entertaining in the extreme. Learn the dates, details, and amazing stories of how some of our most interesting and useful objects have been invented. Presented in an eye-catching retro style, the book's nine chapters reveal how innovations as diverse as the disposable diaper, the zipper, the hair dryer, the photocopier, the artificial heart, and the traffic light have affected all aspects of our daily lives. Compelling and colorful layouts enhance each spread and break down information into small bits that are accessible to readers of all ages.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Reference, History

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Cruz Magana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book was pretty good, there isnt really any narrative or story its just showing many useful inventions throughout history. Each chapter is a different type of tool/invention (Chapter 1 around the house, chapter 2 food and drink, chapter 3 transport/movement, chapter 4 in the office, chapter 5 is things to pass the time, chapter 6 is medical tools, chapter 9 advance things and, chapter 10 is inventions that failed.) The book does a good job at explaining the history of the inventions mentioned in a well organized way. This book is also very easy to pickup and interesting to read if you are into history of manmade objects

[R.A. Danger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of inventions that reads more like a text book. It does deliver on giving you all kinds of inventions, even ones like making a unicorn or fiction inventions from writers. Sometimes there is other invention mention on the same page or you’ll come across that same invention in another section.
Table of content: foreword, around the house (light bulb, etc), eating and drinking (slice bread, etc), getting around (Leonardo’s inventions, etc), in the office (air conditioning, etc), spare time (television, etc), at the doctor’s (Beta Blocker, etc), cutting edge (Battery, etc), invention without wings (growing unicorns, etc), patent numbers list, index, selected bibliography, acknowledgements
Each chapter has a list of inventions and a “And Also”, which is a paragraph of more than one invention on two pages. Each two pages has a paragraph on the top left, one or more “Did you Know?”, the invention or inventions on the left page, pictures (not always the one you would like to see for that invention. They might also put in the inventor), a time line (it will be of the inventor or of the invention).
Two things that were unusual, on page 146 on one of the “Did you Knows?” It talks about Buffalo Bill Cody killing 5,000 buffalo to fill an order for Kansas City railroad workers and staying at one of the inventors of the cash register bars. Then we have a funny bit on page 272 “and Peter Brachacki [born Poland], who designed the console room—although Gallifreyans still labor under the illusion that time travel and the TARDIS were invented by the Time Lords Rassilon and Omega.”

[Todd Stockslager · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing earth-shattering, just fun vignettes of famous inventions, including thumbnails of the inventors and "did you know?" trivia. One interesting piece of trivia: Abraham Lincoln padded his credentials as the greatest president of all time by being the only President to be awarded a patent (for a method of floating riverboats over obstructions by inflatable rubber bladders, a device that was never actually built).

[Brenden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great book if you like learning facts about the world. It is a very interesting book. This book gives credit to all the people who invented the regularly used household items, that the inventors are unknown. item such at the safety pin, sunglasses, or even the remote. It also includes famous inventors such as leonardo da vinci. Who invented many invention used today like the clock or parachute.