The Inventor Says: Quotes, Quips and Words of Wisdom

by Kevin Lippert (Compiler)

The sixth in our popular Words of Wisdom series, The Inventor Says invites readers to a gathering of history's most brilliant creative minds, where inventors past and present jostle, compete, contradict, and compliment each other. Groundbreakers such as Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Ford, Ada Lovelace, the Wright Brothers, and Sejong the Great converse with the twentieth century's most ingenious tinkerers and thinkers, from Buckminster Fuller, Ruth Handler (creator of the Barbie doll), Nikola Tesla (who cuts Thomas Edison down to size for his lack of scientific discipline), and Apple's Steve Wozniak to contemporary figures like Lisa Seacat DeLuca, IBM's most prolific female inventor. These intrepid innovators discuss their childhood, inspirations, working habits, failure as a productive stage in the creative process, and much more, in a collection that will inspire readers to hatch a few brilliant ideas of their own. As Edwin Land "Don't undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible."

160 pages, Hardcover

Published October 17, 2017

Reviews

[Vishualee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting collection of quotes presented with minimalistic tones and multiple fonts. I got to know about various Inventors through this book. I googled them and became aquainted to the legacy they left for us. Most of the inventors in the book were financially well off or just lazy. While a select few have struggled due to racial or gender barriers. Some quotes work for you, others don't.

Many of the inventions I have used so far, the computer mouse has always taken the biggest room in my life. I can't work on my laptop without a mouse. Most of the artworks I did previously were made with the mouse. I thank Douglas Engelbart for inventing this humble device!



All along I was hoping to see a Steve Jobs quote, but didn't see it until the end. The last page was reserved for this man. It was like a cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.

I read the book in one-sitting. I'm gonna read it again when I need some inspiration.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how Lippert presents a point of view and then a counter example. I could have done with the mindset to fail more, earlier in life.