30-Second Great Inventions: 50 Light-Bulb Moments That Changed The World, From The Compass To The Smartphone, Each Explained In Half A Minute

by David Boyle

30-Second Great 50 light-bulb moments that changed the world, from the compass to the smartphone, each explained in half a minute [hardcover] David Boyle [Mar 01, 2018] …

Genres: Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2018

About the author

David Courtney Boyle was a British author and journalist who wrote mainly about history and new ideas in economics, money, business, and culture. He lived in Steyning in West Sussex.
He conducted an independent review for the Treasury and the Cabinet Office on public demand for choice in public services which reported in 2013. Boyle was a co-founder and policy director of Radix, which he characterized in 2017 as a radical centrist think tank. He was also co-director of the mutual think tank New Weather Institute.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is very and down for me and I think I have finally figured it out. It is due to the level of knowledge I have on the various subjects. If it is on something I know - to varying degrees I will admit - then I think a lot of the articles are too short and too basic.

But if it is on a subject that I know next to nothing about then it is a totally different story and that is where the challenge is as not all of them are obvious. Okay physical sciences I am not too shabby on but the work of theory and philosophy well those are totally dark areas for me so I think now I will need to take a stab at one of the titles I have as little understanding of as possible.

That said the articles are easy to read and quick to follow and understand which ever expert they get to write each book is perfectly suited for the subject matter and they and fun to read - just need to find one to see what they are capable one of rather than reminding me what I realised I was close to forgetting.

[Michelle Sims · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely learnt a few things from this book which is exactly what I wanted. It only gets 3 stars in relation to my rating standards and entertainment value.

[Wasi Rizvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a condensed visual set of simple histories. You get to set foot in various pocket universes. The points this book makes are worthy of attention.

[Darma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice and simple with some good takeaways but was very disappointed that there was no insight to the scientific function of all the inventions.

[Greg Koontz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good little, quick-read book. Lots of interesting stuff. Just one page on each invention and some are insignificant but you enjoy reading about them anyway. This is a series from numerous editors from inventions to China.............definitely a couple of books for everyone who reads to find something of interest.
I will definitely read some more from this series.

[Joe Pratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice coffee table book. I unfortunately had to read the last half successively which was boring, but when you just read one or two pages at a time it is fascinating. You don’t learn anything life changing, but the history of inventions can be a cool topic of perusal. I wouldn’t necessarily check it out of a library, but if you are ever staying with Gaby and I, it’ll be in the guest bathroom waiting for you.