Το ξυπνητήρι του Πλάτωνα: Και άλλες απίθανες αρχαίες ανακαλύψεις

by James M. Russell, Νίκος Χατζόπουλος (Translator)

Ο σύγχρονος κόσμος μας προχωρά και εξελίσσεται με γρήγορους ρυθμούς: έχουμε το ίντερνετ και τη ραγδαία πρόοδο στην ιατρική, την επιστήμη και την εξερεύνηση του διαστήματος. Ποια είναι όμως η προέλευση όλης αυτής της γνώσης; Ποιοι ήταν οι πρωτοπόροι των εφευρέσεων της σύγχρονης εποχής, που πλέον θεωρούμε εν πολλοίς δεδομένες, και πόσο μεγάλη είναι τελικά η συμβολή των σπουδαίων μυαλών που ξεχώρισαν στους αρχαίους πολιτισμούς του κόσμου μας;

Ένα βιβλίο που παρουσιάζει με πρωτότυπο τρόπο μια πληθώρα συσκευών, εφευρέσεων και ανακαλύψεων από τα βάθη των αιώνων και από κάθε γωνιά του κόσμου.

Genres: History, Science, Nonfiction, Trivia

192 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2023

About the author

James M. Russell has a philosophy degree from the University of Cambridge, a post-graduate qualification in critical theory, and has taught at the Open University in the UK. He currently works as a freelance writer, designer and editor. He is the author of A Brief Guide to Philosophical Classics, A Brief Guide to Spiritual Classics and A Traveller's Guide to Infinity. He lives in north London with his wife, daughter and two cats.

Reviews

[Renert Dusout · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those little gems that makes you humble, realizing how little you know. Nice storytelling and a great tie-in with our modern era that we ever so often take for granted. A well crafted, round historic-trivia book and a must read for all those curious people out there. :)

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

This is an ok read to delve into from time to time . Most of the items I was aware of but it is handy to have them in one place. Potentially I would have liked a bit more detail about how some of the more complicated devices actually worked.

[André Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always knew the Sicilians had death rays.

[Bayli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you wondered the origins of rhinoplasty or toilets? Would you be surprised both were invented before 1 CE? You might be interested in Plato’s Alarm Clock and Other Amazing Ancient Inventions by James M. Russell.

Plato’s Alarm Clock is an awesome book. It’s a collection of short explanations about supposedly modern inventions like Oil Wells and rapid fire bolt guns. It talks about six different categories of things including, as follows: Everyday Life, Mechanical and Industrial Technology, Mysteries of the Ancient World, Military Inventions, Medical Knowledge, and Scientific Advances. Everyday Life includes summaries of the histories of things like the titular alarm clocks invented by Plato that we curse every morning. Mechanical and Industrial Technology like cranes. Mysteries of the Ancients talks about the artifacts from history with unknown creations like ancient uses of nanotechnology. Military Inventions talks about, well, military inventions. Medical Knowledge--my favorite category--talks about items like false limbs, early tattoos, and plastic surgery that were invented before the year was recorded! The final category, Scientific Advances, talks about inventions like counting, pesticides, and magnetism.

Russell’s writing simplifies complicated histories down to easy to read briefs that never go past 3 pages. It’s a great book because you can learn a lot without having to be an expert on the historical vernacular. He gives translations of the roots of words and tells stories about those who were credited with the inventions and their process of discovery. It makes the knowledge book more memorable because you connect with the stories. I read Plato’s Alarm Clock in between classes and when waiting around. I found it a good way to read the book because you can read about one or two inventions and then put the book down and digest them. I really liked reading the whimsical journey of Plato’s Alarm Clock. It was a nice way to connect with my innovative ancestors and further understand the technology around me.

I give Plato's Alarm Clock: An Other Amazing Ancient Inventions a score of 5/5 Roman Engineers because it was a fun read, I really felt like I got something from reading it, I think the stories inside the book are inspirational, I learned from the book, and because it was like a little time machine to the days of old.

[Nikhilshivpuja · Rating 3 out of 5]

A shallow list, with a very euro centric study of ancient inventions

[Victoria Mabry · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a belief of modern man that we have all the latest and greatest technological advancements and gadgets but archaeology and the study of ancient texts reveals that this is a misconception. “Plato’s Alarm Clock” reveals a number of inventions of the world’s ancient civilizations that have been lost in time and there are some, even with our latest equipment and knowledge, that we have yet been able to unlock the secrets to. The Greeks had unquenchable Creek fire and the Romans had unbreakable glass and concrete that reinforced itself in seawater. Some civilizations were even able to incorporate nanotechnology into their products, even if they didn’t quite understand why their processes worked.

James Russell, in his book, “Plato’s Alarm Clock and Other Amazing Inventions,” gives us a look into some genius minds of ancient civilizations and helps us to see more clearly how amazing this world we live in is and challenges us to not think so highly of ourselves that what we create today might not someday be forgotten forever.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned some interesting facts reading this one. I was particularly intrigued to learn that as far back as 1377 the town council in Florence banned a card game as it was becoming such a craze that it was undermining public morals. Some things never change, their form just changes a wee bit! I also smiled at the first "DoorDash" delivery which came to Aziz, the caliph of North Africa, in the tenth century AD. His vizier had six hundred pigeons sent from Lebanon to Cairo, each carrying a parcel containing one of his favourite cherries. Overall, one thing I appreciated was the reminder that these ancient civilizations were not backward in comparison, and a few of them perfected inventions that we are still unable to replicate. I think I will keep this one on my shelves just to have some of these historical facts at my fingertips.

[Fatih Durmuş · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birçok icadın kökenini, keşfini öğrenmek adına güzel bir kitap. Bazı uygarlıkların ne kadar ilerlemiş olduğunu göreceksiniz, o zamanlarda bunları nasıl düşünüp yapmışlar diye hayrete düşeceksiniz. Tarihin Yunanistan, Anadolu ve Çin coğrafyaları bölgeleri öncülüğünde gelişmiş olduğunu hep duyardık bu kitap onun belgesi niteliğinde olmuş.

Bana güzel bilgiler katan bir kitap oldu. Bilgiye aç ve meraklı arkadaşlarım için çok şey katacaktır 

Kitapla kalın, keyifli ve feyzli okumalar…

[Harsh Thaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives a brief and short write up of the ancient inventions and technologies which starts from toilets, to gun powder to surgery. Its a bit strange most of the technologies which we take for granted today had its origination around 5000 to 6000 years ago. Only negative point is more elaboration would have helped.

[SWC · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of items from ancient times. I especially enjoyed the articles on Damascus Steel and The Baghdad Battery. These are two examples of ancient procedures which have yet to be completely understood.

[Slatteryjm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting facts

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting.

[Thomas Repantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Αναφορά σε εφευρέσεις της αρχαιότητας που είτε ήταν πρωτοποριακές ακόμη και για τη σημερινή εποχή, είτε άλλαξαν τον κόσμο. Αποσπασματικό, χωρίς κάποια ιδιαίτερη εμβάθυνση

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read about amazing ancient inventions & scientific facts that the ancients had available!

[Reanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book it’s full of fun facts and that’s something I enjoy.

[Dafni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Πολύ ενδιαφέρον! Λίγο ελλιπές και κακή βιβλιοδεσία με αποτέλεσμα να φεύγουν σελίδες