Inventing the Twentieth Century: 100 Inventions That Shaped the World, from the Airplane to the Zipper - Hardcover

Dulken, Stephen Van

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0814788084 ISBN 13: 9780814788080

Publisher: New York University Press, 2000

Synopsis

This work looks at the history of 100 of the most significant inventions of the 20th century - from zippers to airplanes, vacuum cleaners to photocopiers. Combining a brief history of each patent with the original patent application, this book reveals the impact of inventions on daily life.

About this title

Review

Nobody can complain that the 1900s were boring. Author Stephen Van Dulken observes the transition away from industrial society and past the information age through the world's patent offices in Inventing the Twentieth Century. This collection of 100 brief glimpses into important or oddball inventions is organised by decade so the reader can see that while some things have changed dramatically--from the electric washing machine to Dolly the cloned sheep in just 86 years--others remain static, like our still-fervent quest for the perfect teabag.

Each entry consists of a page of text describing the patent and a facing page of diagrams from the application, some of which are perplexing or amusing. From the frivolous (snowboard) to the deadly serious (genetic fingerprinting) and even lifesaving (Viagra--?), Van Dulken collects inventions with the widest interest to a general audience. Each decade's section is introduced with a brief contextual exposition that lays the groundwork for understanding the circumstances that permitted each inventor's inspiration to strike. Inventing the Twentieth Century is great fun to read, but also manages to challenge its readers and inspire thinking about technology and our collective future. Let's hear it for pleasant surprises! --Rob Lightner

Review

"A fascinating compendium for trivia seekers."

-Publishers Weekly

"Remarkable . . . get the book for yourself. It'll hold you for many hours."

-Wall Street Journal

"One more treasure trove for trivia addicts."

-Herald-Republic

"Highly entertaining . . . In addition to being able to tell a good story, van Dulken . . . easily assembles complex ideas from chemistry and engineering and makes them palatable for the lay person. Van Dulken has assembled a panoramic snapshot of the century. By giving us a picture of our past, van Dulken also presents our future."

-Boston Globe

"A wonderful book"

-L.A. Daily Breeze, Oct. 19, 2001

Edition details

• Publisher: New York University Press
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0814788084
• ISBN 13: 9780814788080
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 246