Reinventing the Wheel: A Story of Genius, Innovation, and Grand Ambition – Inside Dean Kamen's Technology Development and Entrepreneurial Power Struggle

by Steve Kemper

Reinventing the Wheel is the riveting, behind-the-scenes story of the enigmatic and cocksure inventor Dean Kamen and the Segway Human Transporter.

When Kamen invented the two-wheeled vehicle known to many by its code name, Ginger, he promised it would transform the face of personal transportation forever. But when this brilliant and driven inventor attempted to become an entrepreneur, a colossal power struggle ensued. Here, Steve Kemper takes you along for the wild ride. In Reinventing the Wheel, Kemper goes inside Kamen's world of technology development, where nerve and ingenuity collide with high finance and the bottom line.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Biography, Engineering, Biography Memoir, Science, Entrepreneurship

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Steve Kemper is the author of Our Man in Tokyo, A Splendid Savage, A Labyrinth of Kingdoms, and Code Name Ginger. His work has appeared in many national publications, including Smithsonian and National Geographic. He lives in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Reviews

[Cropredy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me a lot of "The Soul of a New Machine". The 'origin' story of the Segway was completely unknown to me and for someone who has worked in a start up company, I could appreciate much of the politics, money raising, and design challenges. Although written in 2003-4, the events could easily have taken place yesterday.

[Johannah A Classy Rebel Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

“But mainly, Ginger was a mystery -- a mystery catalyzed by the speed and volume of the Internet. Mystery is irresistible, because until it’s resolved, anything is possible." ~Ch 17, pg 291.

“Code Name Ginger,” by Steve Kemper, gives a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the Segway. Before the Segway was created, it started as a way for engineer Kurt Heinzmann to entertain himself. When Dean Kamen, the owner of DEKA saw Ginger, he realized it had great potential. So, Kamen put together a team of engineers with the hope of revolutionizing transportation.

(Book 79 of 100) While I am not an engineer, I found this book fascinating. I never realized how much thought goes into every single component on a device. While a Segway is not practical where I live, I still think it would be cool to ride one. I think the marketing strategy for Segway was poorly done. They had so much build-up for their product that when people finally saw it, they weren't as impressed. I give this book a 5/5-star rating for its detailed accounts on the building of the Segway and its interesting perspective on the engineering industry. I would recommend this nonfiction book for those interested in business, inventing, entrepreneurship, technology, and engineering.

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[Martyn Lovell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kemper's was given behind the scenes access to the team developing the Segway for the first couple of years of the project. Then, due to some combination of bad luck and lack of care between him and his publisher, he was excluded from the final year.

As a result what we have is the detailed story of the beginnings of Segway, but sadly without the most interesting details about how the project finished.

Despite this, Kemper's book is interesting and well-written. It provdes both clear benefits and critique of working for Kamen who is a gifted salesperson but an inveterate micromanager and troublemaker at the office, ill suited to be deeply involved in the engineering of a device that would not exist without him.

This is a fascinating read for any engineer in technology, despite the missing ending. And given the subsequent history of Segway, it's great to see how things turn out after the dust settles.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book about the invention of the Segway Human Transporter (the over-hyped technical balancing wonder now relegated to uber-geeks). The book details the inventor's significant prior achievements (e.g., portable dialysis machines, drug-infusion pumps) and the history and inspiration behind this invention - which he fully expected to change the world. On a personal note, Segways are amazing (you have to experience one to "get it"), but apparently the world isn't ready to look at them as urban auto / scooter replacements, keeping their sales numbers down and their prices up (about $5,000). The book is published by Harvard Business School - which makes sense as about 1/4th of the text would mostly interest students of business.

[Hardeep · Rating 3 out of 5]

A view into an entrepreneurs mind. I dont typically enjoy books about self-aggrandisement, but the underlying product and its associated hoopla was a bit of a draw. I did ultimately enjoy the book, if only to see how so many people (especially the investors) can be drawn into something that seems intrinisically an overpriced toy with a very small market-base.

[Stephen Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Dean Kamen rocks. Would love to meet him, someday.

This book takes the reader behind the scenes into the development of one of the (coolest) high technology products in recent years... one that was ultimately a resounding commercial failure.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

America, or at least those Americans that want to really change the world, need to read this book.

Invention is ugly, dirty, difficult, inconsistent, glorious, and worthy of your attention. The characters that drive invention are often the same way: arbitrary, divisive, visionary, and entertaining. I feel for the author, legs swept out from under. Real entrepreneurs are that way: you can't understand why everyone is so slow, and you can't understand how everyone is so fast, and you act and react to both accordingly. Nothing is fair about it.

Sometimes participating in a project or startup is like getting a wasp sting. It's really not that bad at all, and yet you don't always want to do it again.

This book conveys how the nature of inventing the forefront is fraught with contradiction. Just reading the explanation of the personalities involved on all levels is very entertaining. This one is going on the shelf, as it belongs with various Jobs biographies and Tracy Kidder works on what this is really like.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads a bit like a business thriller. Lots of insight into the world of engineering.

In the end, it did not work out to be the game changer envisioned. But it is a very cool product and probably inspired lots of young inventors.

Whatever happened to Segway?

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I️f you can’t get enough of dean kamen or inverted pendulums this is the book for you

[CT Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

good when it concentrated on the people instead of every detailed meeting

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the article "Writer's 20-Year Worry: 'Did I Kill the Segway?" which peaked my interest to know more about the development of the Segway. Being an engineer who has worked many different roles, from developer to project lead, the story resonated to how the "sausage gets made" and how blind spots in the importance of each part of the process from concept through production can sabotage a project. The engineering challenges along with the diverse personalities provide unexpected results. I enjoyed learning more about the people involved and how things played out. Well written and balanced. Wished the author was able to tell the whole story and not cut out of the ending.

[Renjith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read for those who had always tried reassemble a broken cassette player in their childhood ! The book connects you to the inventive mind of Dean Kamen and the story of a great product, The Ginger! ( I like to call it Ginger better than Segway !)

Steve Kemper did an excellent narration ! Good read !

[Iamrags · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great saga of product development, human spirit and a vision to change the world. Story of a beautiful mind (Dean Kamen) that has changed millions of lives across the globe and still so anonymous. A must read for those who want to make a difference in the world !

[Tom Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book about a fascinating inventor, an amazing device, and what it took to bring the Segway to market. You go back and forth between admiring Dean Kamen and being very very glad you don't actually work for him.

[Arif · Rating 2 out of 5]

Steve Kemper's gung-ho praises for Dean Kamen annoyed me enough to drop this book's rating by one star.

[Atif Ghazi]

Must read

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the book aloud to the 11-year-old; wonderful read on how people make something great.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting book. Dean Kamen is both brilliant and his own worst enemy.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]