So That's Why They Call it Great Britain: How One Tiny Country Gave So Much to the World

by Steve Pope

In this quirky new book, Steve Pope reveals the stories behind some of the world's most remarkable inventions and discoveries - and all of them are British.Presented in an easy to read A-Z format, So That's Why They Call It Great Britain is quite simply crammed full of fascinating facts.For example, did you know we gave the world chocolate bars, fizzy drinks, the flushing loo, computers and the iPod ?We also came up with the cash machine, safari parks, the collapsible umbrella, the light bulb and text messaging. Of course there were more serious inventions too like ibuprofen, anaesthetics, innoculations and antibiotics. We unlocked the DNA code, produced the world's first test tube baby and invented ultrasound.Trains, planes and automobiles revolutionised the way we travel and our advancements with computer technology gave everyone the world wide web.Not bad for a country which covers less than half of one per cent of the earth’s land mass. Our agricultural and industrial revolutions changed the way the world ate and worked, our legal and political system has been copied across the globe, our explorers discovered new lands and our language is spoken everywhere.Most of the world’s major sports originated here and the television set that they are watched on was also invented by a Brit.And we lead the world in one other self-deprecation. This book shows – without boasting, and with tons of humour, unknown facts and weird stories – just why our country is called GREAT Britain.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2009

Reviews

[Jenny]

Thoroughly enjoyable - a fantastic, fascinating, uplifting book!

I had no idea that people from Britain were behind so many amazing inventions, discoveries and 'world firsts'. Everything from the chocolate bar and champagne to cures for diseases and huge technological advances.

Unlike similar history-type books, which are often worthy and wordy, So That's Why They Call it Great Britain is a clear, succinct and really easy read. It's a great book to dip into when you have a spare moment. I did the random page test and found that you could open it virtually anywhere and find out at least one interesting fact.

[Nat]

Fascinating stuff, if not a bit industry/science heavy