The Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions

by Richard Platt

Traces the history of inventions throughout time, from 3500 BC to the technological advances of today, in an indispensible guide that provides students with a vast array of essential information and makes learning enjoyable.

Genres: History, Science, Nonfiction

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

(1953–)

Richard Platt is the author of more than sixty informative books for young readers, and he also writes for innovative multimedia projects. Some of his most popular works have been collaborations with illustrator Stephen Biesty on the "Cross-Sections" series. After a failed attempt to forge a career as a photographer, Platt discovered that he had a knack for writing. "I started writing about photography: first magazine articles, then books," he explained on the Walker Books Web site. "I got a job editing children's books, then went on to write them."

In the 1990s, Platt teamed up with popular juvenile illustrator Biesty for several books, beginning with Stephen Biesty's Incredible Cross-Sections Book, published in 1992. The following year, a second volume in the series, Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections Man-of-War, proved equally interesting for late-elementary-age readers, especially those enchanted by seventeenth-century battleships. Alongside Biesty's cutaway illustrations, Platt provides explanatory text that indicates the purpose and activities in each section of the ship. The hardships of life aboard such vessels for their often 800-member crews are not overlooked, either, and the drawings depict food rations crawling with maggots and a doctor's pail containing severed limbs. Ellen Mandel, writing for Booklist, asserted that Platt's "intriguing text" serves to make "this meticulously presented book a treasure of factual content and visual imagery."

For Stephen Biesty's Incredible Everything, Platt provides informative paragraphs to accompany the illustrations for many everyday products, such as athletic shoes and compact discs. Much of the text revolves around the manufacturing process. Stephen Biesty's Incredible Body is a lesson in human anatomy, with sections on each of the body's systems and several major organs; the digestive system alone takes up four pages. Platt has also worked with the illustrator on Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections Castle and Stephen Biesty's Incredible Explosions.

Working with publisher Dorling Kindersley, Platt has authored several titles in their "Eyewitness" series, some of which have appeared in the United States under the Knopf/Borzoi imprint. Pirate details the world of corsairs, privateers, and crime on the high seas throughout history. A reviewer for Science Books and Films, Richard B. Woodbury, praised the work as "a veritable miniencyclopedia or minimuseum" and "a pleasure to look at." Spy chronicles the history of espionage and the decisive role intelligence-gathering triumphs have played in history. Of particular emphasis are the code-breaking endeavors by Allied intelligence networks during World War II. Shipwreck, also part of the "Eyewitness" series, investigates famous sea disasters and rescues. Like the other books in the popular series, Shipwreck is lavishly illustrated. Chris Stephenson, writing in School Librarian, called it "an excellent source of historical evidence and nautical information."

Platt has also written several books about inventions. His The Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions, which appeared in 1994, won praise from reviewers for its comprehensiveness. Platt divides the development of technology throughout the ages into five sections, including agriculture, conquest, and communication. The timeline begins at 600,000 BCE, around the time humans likely began using fire, and includes predictions for innovations that may occur in the near future. Cathryn A. Camper, reviewing The Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions for School Library Journal, praised Platt's skilled use of illustration and text, which the critic felt "teaches a sophisticated form of literacy similar to" that provided with multimedia learning tools—an area in which Platt already had a great deal of writing experience. "Readers will delight in the colorful pictures and the text, which gives just enough information to satisfy curiosity," opined Voice of Youth Advo

Reviews

[Cynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This visual timeline contains elements of physical culture since approximately 5000 BCE. The items in the visual timeline are photos of extant items, other items maybe not available to be photographed.

As I have viewed this book, I realize that sometimes we let go of old technologies such as grindstones/metates which are now often replaced by downsized mocajates or replaced by complete new technologies such as crank-operated coffee grinders or electric food processors.


Also questions are answered about technology or inventions. Recently I wondered when the first buses operated. Answer: The omnibus service started in Paris in 1662. The stage coach was developed for rural travel while the omnibus was developed for urban travel. Of course now we have buses for both.

As we move along the timeline into the Modern Period, there can be found technologies and developments that are modernized, yet still in use. We still use trains, and manual staplers and light bulbs.

What I found missing. Washing machines and irons. These were the largest tasks of many women into the 20th century. A whole day was allocated to washing.

What I was glad was included. The sewing machine and the typewriter.

Although a real effort to show the experience of women was made, the result was a bit flawed. I wish that Richard Platt had consulted his female family members and friends more.

Read for participation in a Time Challenge with GR Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon--Selected for In Time prompt.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is beautiful. It is a good reference book, but it doesn’t include everything I think it should. It is well-organized, showing inventions chronologically. It gives brief, but not thorough descriptions, but you can’t expect more depth in a book such as this. I think it could have included more earlier inventions in the non-European world.

I would give it 3 1/2 stars.

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 4 out of 5]

It grew on me as we drew nearer to the present. And I liked the variety (they even included the sandwich). :) Admittedly though I could've done without the Rubik's cube...

[Pepper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tons of info & I learned a lot.