Who Built That: Awe-Inspiring Stories of American Tinkerpreneurs

by Michelle Malkin

Firebrand conservative columnist, commentator, Internet entrepreneur, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Michelle Malkin tells the fascinating, little-known stories of the inventors who have contributed to American exceptionalism and technological progress.

In July 2012, President Obama infamously “If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.”

Malkin wholeheartedly disagrees. Who Built That is a rousing tribute to the hidden American capitalists who pioneered everyday inventions. They’re the little big things we take for bottle caps and glassware, tissue paper, flashlights, railroad signals, bridge cables, revolutionary plastics, and more.

Malkin takes readers on an eclectic journey of American capitalism, from the colonial period to the Industrial Age to the present, spotlighting awe-inspiring and little-known “tinkerpreneurs” who achieved their dreams of doing well by doing good. You’ll learn how famous patent holders Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain championed the nation’s unique system of intellectual property rights; how glass manufacturing mavericks Edward Libbey and Mike Owens defied naysayers to revolutionize food, beverage, and pharmaceutical packaging; how penniless Croatian immigrant Anthony Maglica started his $400 million Maglite flashlight business in a rented garage; and many more riveting stories that explain our country’s fertile climate for scientific advancement and entrepreneurship.

To understand who we are as people, we need to first understand what motivates America’s ordinary and extraordinary makers and risk-takers. Driven by her own experience as a second-generation beneficiary of the American Dream, Malkin skillfully and passionately rebuts collectivist orthodoxy to celebrate the engineers, mechanics, designers, artisans, and relentless tinkerers of all backgrounds who embody our nation’s spirit of self-made entrepreneurialism.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Business, Politics, Biography, Economics, Science

336 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 2015

About the author

Michelle Malkin is an American conservative blogger, political commentator, and author. Her weekly syndicated column appears in a number of newspapers and websites. She is a Fox News Channel contributor and has been a guest on MSNBC, C-SPAN, and national radio programs. Malkin has written four books published by Regnery Publishing.

Malkin began her journalism career at the Los Angeles Daily News, working as a columnist from 1992 to 1994. In 1995, she worked in Washington, D.C., as a journalism fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a free-market, anti-government regulation, libertarian think tank. In 1996, she moved to Seattle, Washington, where she wrote columns for The Seattle Times. Malkin became a nationally-syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate in 1999.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written exploration of tinkerers and entrepreneurs (tinkerpreneurs) who actually DID build many of the common things that we take for granted today. As was repeated in story after story it was the inborn natural curiosity and abilities of people who wanted to make money by providing things that made peoples' lives better through their efforts. By and large it is inventors and engineers like these, not the government, that make things happen. Excellent read for anyone and loaded with details and little-known facts behind the invention of so many things we use every day.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was read very slowly because a great portion of it is technical reading. And the author does it well. Technical writing is not an apt skill in majority of good writers, IMHO.

The sections upon Carrier and later segments when that was developed into so many other fields (air conditioning and the changing of humidity factors in endless related or altered processes with water/ combine power-Westinghouse/Tesla etc.) were a full 5 stars. Bottle caps, toilet paper, difficult bridge spans accomplished- all just enthrallingly interesting to me. The innovators' lives themselves- long or short- just obsessed and dedicated to remarkable degrees. All types of personality social mobility degrees to group association or not too. Very interesting.

Her Introduction was 6 star in my evaluation. But I doubt some will get past her factual knowledge and notes of research to the end, because they will stop reading on page 3. She's correct, that's probably the worse statement Obama ever made. THEY DID MAKE IT. Innovation and invention is not equal across the world. Nor has it made the vast differences in health or longevity in parsing time periods or social / authority structuring styles as apples to apples either.

It has been individuals with ideas and quirks and years and years of their own invested hours of repeated trials and tries which has given homo sapiens the great leaps forward. And even some large steps at that. But that air conditioning story is the tops. Think of the places which have been habitable because of it. Not to mention all the processes possible by changing humidity in the construct possibilities. (Read these lists: chewing gum is one.)

I read here all the time about how some fiction caused endless hours of bawling. I did cry on one page for an instant here. My Mother said this to us at least once a month- and when we were very little we did a teapot skit /dance to it. I still know the first half of the words. It was popular in the 1950's for sure.

Page 175:

Somebody said that it couldn't be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't, "but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he tried
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done. and he did it!

Excellent book. The ending went too heavy politico for the crowd who thinks individuals are just cogs in a wheel- thus the minus one star. But I love that I heard about individuals which I did not recognize as knowing their names. Like Owens, with glass. Or the differences too in our patient (USA) system. And how the Founding Fathers who wrote the Constitution were FULLY perceptive of this important individuality of ideas.

Strongly recommend this read. Learn about the origin of some of the unappreciated factors of invention that have made a longevity record achieved presently possible. Some of the outlier thinkers of form, engineers, scientists, (even a guy who looked at dirt and saw something else)- here are their stories. No one else built it for them or gave them the process to get to their goals either. They DID build it.

[Melsene G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an interesting book and is a must read for young and old alike. You will learn things about everyday products we use and how they got here. Each chapter talks about different inventors and their patents and inventions. Some of the material is very technical and not easily digested by laymen, however, it brings to life what it takes to invent things. The author is absolutely correct that our system is best situated as has been for entrepreneurs or tinkerpreneurs as she calls them. If history were taught in this fashion, storytelling, we'd all be avid students of history. Sadly, the educational system today gets an F in this department. If only they could take a page out of Ms Malkin's playbook, history would come alive.

[Glenn Humplik · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up a copy of this book at my local dollar store for $1.25. Needless to say my expectations were low going in. After reading the intro which was nothing but biased one sided conservative rhetoric I nearly threw the book out in my recycle bin. Begrudgingly I continued and surprisingly enjoyed the individual stories of American Tinkerpreneurs from the past couple of centuries.

It's unfortunate the author can't think past her America first mindset and realize there's a world beyond her country that exists on this planet. The rhetoric continues in the conclusion. If you choose to read this book bypass the intro and conclusion and you'll find yourself with a solid 3 star book of entrepreneurial stories from the past. Unfortunately for us the readers the inclusion of the rhetoric lowers it to a two star.

In the book the author discusses the power of free markets. At the purchase price of $1.25 the free markets appear to have spoken. Here's hoping the author uses some of the revenue from this 'masterpiece' and buys herself a book on confirmation biases and behavioral psychology. She could learn about herself in the process.

[Ford · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am tired of hearing and reading about how the top 1% are saving us all. The top executives just cut all retirees off the company's health plan while they take big bonuses. While I was still working they increased the weekly employees share to the health care plan by $10, then took $20 million in bonuses that year. The big income taxes cuts to the top and getting rid of the inheritance tax help start the problems. This is the reason I could not finish the book.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is respectable to "do well by doing good".

That's the premise of this look into the lives of inventor-entreprenuers (which Malkin terms "tinkerprenuers") who picked themselves by their bootstraps and earned considerable success from their useful innovations through hard work and ingenuity.

You can approach this book from two perspectives. The historical, technological look, which attracted me to the book, offers an insightful look into the development of things we take for granted: toilet paper, glass, and flashlights, to name a few. From all walks of life and all parts of the world, these inventors didn't earn their success by sitting idle; long hours, much trial and error, and a little bit of luck eventually paid off for them.

The other approach is a political reading. As someone who is somewhat ignorant in politics, I didn't know that Malkin is a conservative political correspondent for Fox News, and I certainly didn't expect the thesis of the book to be political. I completely agree with the ambition to "do well by doing good", and the stories Malkin presents certainly do contradict President Obama's statement that any and all businesses are possible only because of someone else- the government. I doubt, though, that this book alone will be enough to change the minds of those wary of capitalism.

But whether you are Republican, Democrat, Tea Party, Capitalist, Socialist, or whatever, read it because of toilet paper. Someone went through a lot of work to make wiping comfortable for us today.

[Dane Rodriguez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Far-Right Political Drivel hidden as a book on tinker/entrepreneurs. Could not finish.

[Sherman · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author adds her political views in each chapter. I wanted to learn about the history of the inventions, not her politics.

[Ron Housley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who Built That — Awe-Inspiring Stories of American Tinkerpreneurs by Michelle Malkin ©2015

A short Book Report by Ron Housley

Elizabeth Warren, Thomas Piketty, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and the entire crowd have effectively shut down the free-market advocates with their accusations against which no Republican has been able to craft a compelling retort.

Their accusations are a mixture of philosophic altruism (to which the entire Republican party concedes) along with a string of believable falsehoods, culminating in “you didn’t build that.”

The Republicans are in a hopeless position as long as they concede to the Left the moral high ground — by agreeing that altruism should guide our moral choices; by agreeing to the principle which dictates coercive redistribution of wealth from those who produced it to those who did not.

Elizabeth Warren’s and Barack Obama’s attempt to fool Americans into believing that “you didn’t build that” is their attempt to justify seizing our wealth to give to whomever will vote for them next.

Now, along comes Michelle Malkin making her case that a whole assortment of INDIVIDUALS “did build that,” and that forcefully taking it from them requires that we get over our reverence for the individual and for individual rights.

It’s the collective vs. the individual all over again, this time on stage center. But as long as Republicans insist on wearing their altruist blinders, they have no effective counter-ammunition. How can any 2016 Republican candidate appeal to the American voter, when the voter is unalterably indoctrinated with the mentality that we are all born to sacrifice for others?

I remember when Obama chastised the banking industry for installing ATM machines, instead of employing thousands of extra tellers. It sounded like a cruel joke, until I realized that his admonition resonated with so many indoctrinated voters. Altruism, after all, requires the banks to sacrifice themselves to offer unnecessary jobs(!) rather than deploying ATMs.

Malkin points out our long and brutal history of greeting new innovations with hostility and even violence: from wholesale destruction of the new “Spinning Jenny” power looms by the Luddites, all the way up to current day industrial sabotage to “save” unskilled jobs in nearly every industry.

All the while, the force of all those individuals “who did built that” has combined to drive our culture into ever more prosperity. The upward spiral is foiled only by taxes and regulation. This is the lesson that the collectivists do not want any graduates of the government schools to ever hear; and so far, the lesson remains safely hidden.

Michelle Malkin’s book is her attempt to shine sunlight on one of the cornerstones of collectivist indoctrination. But how many will actually emerge from the darkness?

In their quest to dismantle industrial capitalism, today’s breed of collectivists on college campuses and in halls of government are in relentless attack on the very idea of individual rights, on the patent and copyright clause of the Constitution which allows “individual effort by personal gain [as] the best way to advance public welfare through the talents of authors and inventors.” (p 235)

The “you didn’t build that” movement continues to build momentum, as altruism subsumes our once great national culture. The “you didn’t built that” culture is the natural outcome of a philosophy which puts need above rights; which tells us that a thing can be “A" and “non-A;” which extolls self-sacrifice as the fundamental moral imperative for us all.

But what the collectivists fail to admit is that without the “unique and revolutionary” creation of the U.S patent system, the few of us still left would still be suffering in man’s natural condition: poverty and strife. They are actively working at dismantling the patent system; and their success seems right around the corner.

Our national rulers are busily dismantling the life-nurturing U.S. patent system. The 2011 American Invents Act is driving garage tinkerers and small inventors out of the marketplace, a result that Saul Alinsky would applaud; all they had to do was replace “first to invent” with “first to file with the patent office,” and presto: multi-national corporations get to squeeze the individual out of the action.

Just as most Americans have ignored the President’s threat that we “will fundamentally change America,” so also they are completely ignoring the consequences of destroying our patent system.

Here was Malkin’s cruel trick: she created a crescendo of admiration and smiles by the reader, with story after story of inventive success. And then, when the reader had reached a peek of delight for living in such a benevolent country, she outlined how our national wrecking crew is destroying the very patent system that made it all possible in the first place. The collectivists will have won the day, because there is even less likelihood of undoing the damage to the patent system than there is of undoing the damage to the healthcare system.

Michelle Malkin’s book is a nice portrait of individuals who “did build that;” and it might even open some eyes — unless the powers-that-be succeed in completely suppressing her book’s very existence.

[Dav · Rating 4 out of 5]

.


Who Built That:
Awe-Inspiring Stories of American Tinkerpreneurs
• By Michelle Malkin
(Published 2015, over 300 pages)

OVERVIEW:
Michelle Malkin ("that angry brown lady on cable TV") tells the fascinating, little-known stories of the inventors who have contributed to American exceptionalism and technological progress.

In July 2012, President Obama infamously proclaimed: “If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.”

Malkin wholeheartedly disagrees...

Malkin takes readers on an eclectic journey of American capitalism, from the colonial period to the Industrial Age to the present, spotlighting awe-inspiring and little-known “tinkerpreneurs” who achieved their dreams of doing well by doing good.
You’ll learn how famous patent holders Abraham Lincoln & Mark Twain championed the nation’s unique system of intellectual property rights;
how glass manufacturing mavericks Edward Libbey & Mike Owens defied naysayers to revolutionize food, beverage, and pharmaceutical packaging;
how penniless Croatian immigrant Anthony Maglica started his $400 million Maglite flashlight business in a rented garage;
and many more riveting stories that explain our country’s fertile climate for scientific advancement and entrepreneurship...

•

Author Malkin, being a geeky tinkerer-wannabe herself, was inspired to write this response to Obama's insulting comments directed at job creating entrepreneurs. She states: "My mission...is to fight the wealth-shamers with enlightenment and inspiration...(with)...stories about my favorite American heroes of the one percent...(who)...made the world a safer, brighter, more comfortable, and happier place to live."

1. MAGLITE flashlight (made in the USA)
It begins with the story of the poor Maglica family from Croatia and entrepreneur Tony's development of a tough and precision made flashlight, the MAGLITE. This section also covers some of the history of the flashlight, fighting the counterfeiters producing knock-offs of the original (copyright infringements, etc) and numerous testimonials from First Responders, who were saved by their exceptional MAGLITE.

2. "Wizards of Cool" air conditioning A/C
Covers the biography and careers of Willis Carrier (1876 to 1950) and J. Irvine Lyle (1874 to 1942), farm boys who grew up to become engineers and developed the A/C which changed the lives of just about everyone: overheated factories, hospitals, the US Capitol, movie theaters...

3. The Roebling family: steel-rope (wire cable) and suspension bridges
Includes early rope making using the ropewalk method, etc.

Part II
4. Toilet Paper
Begins with: the unpleasant forerunners to TP; early American papermaking mills using linen, cotton, etc and eventually wood pulp; popularizing and improvements to TP by the Scott's brothers and others.

5. William Painter's bottle cap
In addition to numerous other inventions, Painter's attempts to make a better bottle stopper produced fame and fortune when he invented the crown cap--the familiar crinkle-edged, soda bottle cap.

6. The Disposable Safety Razor Blade
King Camp Gillette, was encouraged by his friend William Painter to think of something practical and disposable. When Gillette's straight razor again needed honing he hit upon the idea of a safety razor, always sharp and disposable when dull. Despite many detractors he persevered with his invention (1901).

7. Hires Root Beer
Charles Hires studied to be a pharmacist and eventually opened his own drugstore. After perfecting and publicizing his root beer concoction it was a huge success--debuting at Philadelphia's Centennial Fair.

Part III
8. Libbey and Owens:
automated, safe, inexpensive and uniformity in the mass production of glass products
There's some history of glass making and details of fire, sand, glass blower secrecy, violence, child labor abuses and the resistance to industry improvements and automation.

9. Westinghouse and Tesla AC and the Niagara Falls hydroelectric plant.
Includes their numerous inventions and improvements, also the rivalry with Thomas Edison and others promoting Direct Current (DC) electricity as opposed to Alternating Current (AC) for electric motors, power plants, city lights etc.

Part IV
10. Artificial Limbs: Prosthetics and Orthotics;
Improvements and Innovation over Generations.
Basically it covers primitive designs (not unlike captain Ahab's whalebone peg-leg) to sci-fi like limbs of the 21st century.

In the Conclusion: the author covers laws and protections for inventors and intellectual property rights; Obama's American Invents Act (AIA), which stifles the most creative in small companies and ordinary tinkerers. AIA promotes first-to-file law over the former (and fairer) first-to-invent right. This change serves big business cronies and hinders the creativity of individual tinker-preneurs.

•

Fabulously written and enthusiastically read by the author.
Loved it.

.

[Todd Stockslager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review title : What hath man wrought?

Full disclosure:

I am a philosophical conservative who refuses to vote in national elections until I find a candidate who understands what the labels "conservative" and "liberal" really mean and can articulate what they stand for and why.

I believe that the answers to the problems in America and the world today are not political problems with political solutions, and that the hope for change rests in the hearts, minds, and souls of individual human beings as they observe, think, and respond in and to the world they face.

I do not watch any of the cable news networks, because I cannot tolerate their unthinking but loudly shouted political positions that cater to and result in the lowest form of demagoguery that are what now seem to be accepted as political discourse.

I had never heard of Michelle Malkin and had no idea she was a conservative talking head on one of these networks when I bought this book online based on a brief excerpt published in the excellent daily email post Delanceyplace.com.

So needless to say I was surprised when the book arrived and I learned of her background and found that even the seemingly straightforward history of invention has a political angle, driven by the quote from President Obama on the back cover: "if you've got a business--you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen." That was such a demonstrably falsifiable statement I thought it must be a misquote or at least quoted out of context, but no, in the introduction Malkin provides the full paragraph from the speech where this was said, and while the President's handlers tried to justify it as referring to the support provided by government in terms of creating infrastructure that enables innovation, he said what he meant. It is simply a stupid thing to say that is laughably easy to prove wrong, which was the motivation for Malkin's collection of thumbnail histories of people who really did build things that we all use every day.

The excerpt that brought me here was about King Gillette, who invented his razor not because of his expertise in metallurgy or shaving, but because he wanted to solve a problem (a dull razor) that resulted in profits (disposable blades replaced dull blades and kept customers returning). In fact, Gillette was working for William Painter, who is profiled for his invention of the replaceable bottle cap. Other inventions profiled include toilet paper, air conditioning, and the Maglite flashlight.

The common thread that unites all these inventors:

1. Practical resolution. Each of these inventors set out, like Gillette, to solve an immediate problem. The route to invention didn't necessarily include a "Eureka!" moment or a deep theoretical advance, but did include a step by step approach to resolving a real life problem, like dull razors, flimsy flashlights, and hot buildings.

2. Profitable results. Each one of these inventions resulted in profit to the inventor. But it is important to remember that the first common thread (solving the problem) was the motive, not profit. The inventor must be motivated to solve the problem first, then profits will flow from results.

3. Property rights. The inventors not only resolved the problem but retained ownership of the idea that solved the problem. This intellectual capital through the American patent system, says Malkin, is the great driver of American invention that has dominated the world the last two centuries. It is what makes America the land of opportunity and still attracts immigrants like Tony Maglica of Maglite flashlight fame.

Malkin concludes with a chapter on the history of the invention of medical prosthetics starting with Civil War veterans and industrial accident victims inventing replacements for their own amputated limbs, and bringing it up to date with modern biotechnology driven by individual and small teams of inventors. The message: invention is still alive, as long as problems, profit, and property rights still exist.

Other than the introduction talking about Malkin's motive, the book is mostly free from polemic. The histories are well footnoted. Her conclusion is hard to argue: "Liberty, not government, is the world's most powerful wellspring of innovation. The stories I've told here are but a small confirmation that free human beings, acting in their own self-interest, also best serve the public good." (p. 242)

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a spectacular thing that this book is actually a big, loud F.U. to Obama's sorely misguided and bought-off-by-big-business dumbkopf comment about the capitalistic dreamscape of the inventive process - something he ruined for all time until someone more sensible comes along and reverses this damnation.

Though the book is a marvelous run-through of excellent examples of human initiative - and their attendant, truly inspiring stories, the writer never forgets to take her foot off the political throttle, constantly shoving Obama's stupid new law in his face.

Each chapter is also perfectly concise, impeccably researched, passionate, and informative for those who can't tolerate David McCullough-length books (though i don't understand why anyone wouldn't want to, save for being pressed for time and desperate to have all the knowledge downloaded).

It's a nearly flawless book with one quibble, Malkin should have posed, at the end of each chapter, this question: At which point exactly do these brilliant inventors and strivers begin to owe their money to the system? When they make their first x? Or when they make this first y? What is the threshhold? Why is that the threshold? Maybe they need more to reinvest? What's your demarcation line, Obama?

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very disappointing book. It was suppose to dispel the 2012 Obama comment "if you've got a business, you didn't build that." The "that" in the statement refers to American roads and bridges, and in general refers to the interstate highway system built in the 1950's and the national infrastructure of electrical, water, and even the internet. More broadly, it can refer to the national funding of research such as the NIH, CDC, etc. I was looking for some examples of businesses that were successful but had totally avoided our national infrastructure.

If that is what you expect, don't read this book. Its examples go back over 100 years, to the making of glass, bottle caps, wire rope, toilet paper, our electrical grid. The only 2 examples that are more current is the Maglite in the 1970's and the making of prosthetic limbs. Even those companies must have used our interstate highway system or air travel to get their products to consumers.

At the very end of the book there is a rant against Obama, including many actions that had nothing to do with entrepreneurship.

Very disappointing, and she did not prove her point. Only recommended if you need a trip down history lane about how some long-existing products came to be.

[Michelle Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Michelle for writing a truthful book about the history of our country's greatest inventions and inventors. These stories are missing from our current generations history lessons. Even though I had heard of all of these people from my own education, the in depth information was amazing. It is obvious that hours of research went into the writing of this book. The attention to detail was staggering. This book should be in every history classroom. While probably the public schools will never show the cover of this book, I would recommend that every home school family have a copy of this on their bookshelves. The stories behind all of the inventions that shaped this country will entice you to learn even more about our country's tinkerpreneur's as she calls them. Whether born in this country or immigrants, every story in this book is a testament to the freedom and success of our capitalistic system. Way to go Michelle for pointing out the truth.

[David Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for every high school (and college, for that matter) economics and American history class. Very interesting look at many examples of the entrepreneurial spirit in America, and how the free market has benefited this nation and its inhabitants by giving inventors both incentive and opportunity to dream and create. Inspiring stories of how things we may take for granted came to be, including bottle caps, air conditioning, prosthetic limbs, root beer, glass, toilet paper, disposable razors, electricity, the Brooklyn Bridge, and more.

As a bonus, you'll come away with a renewed appreciation of just how important the U. S. Patent System (not something most of us think about every day) truly is to the many comforts and conveniences we enjoy!

[Lynn Pribus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by "an angry black woman" (her words) in response to President Obama's massively inept statement to American entrepreneurs "you didn't built that." She retells stories of what she terms "tinkerpreneurs" who are both inventors and businesspeople developing everything from electricity to toilet paper, power plants at Niagara Falls to disposable razors. Abraham Lincoln even had a patent.

Some went into greater detail than interested me so I admit I skimmed parts, but overall a very inspiring book. At the end, she discusses governmental weakening of patent protection which leads to patents being awarded to the "firwst to file" (usually with large pocketbooks) rather than the "first to invent."

A good book to read to "be in the know" about current events.

[James Pritchert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The historical rendering was pretty good. Perhaps a bit slow at times but altogether very enjoyable. All of the examples were highly enlightening and I liked getting the background on the inventions in American that has shaped and changed not only our society but that of the entire world. Too often we are taught the sanitized versions of history and the exceeding interesting and eye opening details are left out. This book goes into some depth on the lives of the inventors and the process of bringing new inventions to the market. The author also vents a considerable amount of political editorializing which may lead some to discount the history of the book. In the end, I really enjoyed this book and I can high recommend it to anyone who likes history.

[Terry Tibbetts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book delivers fascinating information on the "who," "what," "how,"when," "where," and much more about inventions in the USA. The bottom line was that most dynamic inventions were conceived and built by individuals who conceived an idea and pursued it with great intensity. They never gave up. The inventions described run the gamut from huge, complicated projects like A.C. electricity to the simple (at least they seem so today)like bottle caps. The geniuses ranged from European immigrants to teenage girls. The bottom line: if someone is reasonable intelligent, has common sense, and a never-give-up attitude he can invent.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

popular science and mechanics interest, demonized jews and rich, pioneers gave glory to God and others, faith and enthusiasm God is good, innovation cascade, serve and world serves with you, Libby glass spawned 200 other companies, stand egg on end, the helluride Ames power plant, from goodness, inventor property rights or like a crab sideways and back only, new laws steal rights with more regulations, civilizations deform society.

[Jennilynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love non-fiction books and this book was no exception. It made me think about all the great inventions I take for granted and all the fantastic "tinkerpreneurs" who are part of my life. The way the stories were presented and intertwined was engaging. I especially liked the chapter told from the perspective of the Scott toilet paper. I also liked that it was an easy book to read, put down for a bit and come back to, without feeling like I had missed something.

[Dave Hoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Slur: "If you got a business, you didn't build" that an arragant wannbe made, prompted Michelle to find a lot of people who did indeed "build that" w/o Govt hlessing or help. Reading chapter #9, "Westinghouse, Tesla and Niagara Falls" begs the question, Ms Malkim, do you have a double E degree? One smart lady author.

[Alex Devero · Rating 4 out of 5]

For over a century, tinkerpreneurs have combined the genius of inventors with bold opportunism to give their inventions commercial success, often revolutionizing industries while they’re at it. Collaboration and a supportive patent system has allowed tinkerpreneurs to flourish in the United States; new reforms, however, may end the tinkerpreneurial era.

[Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hopefully, in time, I'll get rid of this taste from being force-fed the notion (repeatedly!) that big government suppresses, rather then engenders, innovation. I think the gathered tales can illustrate this and be inspirational without the underlying premise being spelled out at every opportunity.

Enough whining.

[Melissa Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent book detailing the history of some of the most common items we use today. I enjoyed learning about the inventors themselves and their stories, but not so much the incredibly detailed description of how the inventions worked. Malkin is a very, VERY detailed writer, and a bit heavy-handed in her purpose for writing the book, and for me the book was dry overall because of that.

[Ggpm · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't get past the partisan political tone. Yes, the entrepreneureal spirit of our country is what makes us great. But Michelle, how much is too much? Our system does not hold up under the income inequality the wealthy and powerful are trying so hard to defend. The writing also tended towards flowery... I just couldn't swallow it.

[David R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring collection of essays on entrepreneurs (some from the past, some current) whose imagination and hard work made life better for the rest of us. The opening story is unbelievably heartwarming--about the man who invented the MagLite after a brutally difficult start in life.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful (true!) stories about inspiration, innovation, and the unique connections that are almost always surprises. FYI, 19th and early 20th century inventors didn't need incentives like cash prizes or tax free real estate to spur their innovation.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the air conditioning section was awesome... Who knew it was invented in the early 1900's?!? Some of the rest of the sections had way too much backstory and I lost interest towards the end of the book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really fascinating and I enjoyed learning more about how many corporations were built and built again. The Brooklyn Bridge section made me want to learn more. The pokes and barbs on Democrats and Obama got a bit tiresome but other than that, it was a good read.

[Ravi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book that explains and shows the very essence of capitalism and its befefits. Malkin shows how America's biggist companies came to be because of America's free enterprise market. It shows that our market allows us to do great things.