The Independent Inventor's Handbook

Let me just say that I wish I read this book years ago. It's really well organized and should be required reading for any new entrepreneur. It covers all the main aspects of being an inventor in a very practical way covering every step. You can tell that the author really has experience starting businesses and has put a lot of effort into this book. In addition, the patent information section of the book really taught me a lot even though I have several years dealing with patent issues. Most books on patents are written by lawyers and difficult to understand. This one just sticks to what entrepreneurs need to know. Overall, I was very impressed with the book. It was easy to follow, had great examples, and I agreed on every point. For an overview of the invention process, I have not found a better book that is why I highly recommend this one.

The Independent Inventor's Handbook, by Foreman and Welytok, is very well written. It is easily understandable for the neophyte inventor, yet detailed, informative and interesting for even the most skilled. I enjoy the way it is split into the two voices of the entrepreneur and the lawyer. The sidebars, humorous facts, pictures and real life stories keep it lively and fast paced. The Independent Inventor's Handbook is empowering. The book is logically organized, which makes researching information simple. It is a wonderful resource that can be consulted time and again for guidance and inspiration. Last, but not least, one can't overlook the pricing. What a fantastic bargain! I highly recommend this book.

At first, I didn't think the world needed another invention "how-to" book. After all, many other books have been published in this vein, right? Most do a reasonably good job of explaining the various steps of the invention process. But I must say that there is something refreshingly original and enjoyable about the newly released Independent Inventor's Handbook (by Louis Foreman and Jill Gilbert Welytok, Workman Publishing, 2009). Louis is the publisher of Inventors Digest magazine and executive producer of the Emmy® award-winning PBS show Everyday Edisons, as well as the and CEO of Enventys, a product-development firm working with major consumer product manufacturers and leading retailers. His businesses are proud Sponsors of the UIA. Jill is a principal at Absolute technology Law Group that provides patent protection for clients ranging from independent inventors to large corporations and federal research institutions. Together, they formed a team they refer to as "the Entrepreneur and the Attorney". Their new book is primarily helpful to inventors who come up with consumer products. If you've come up with a very high-tech or advanced industrial innovation, this book is probably not for you. But since most independent inventors create for the mass consumer market, The Independent Inventor's Handbook is an especially useful update in today's globalized economy, with new risks associated with the rise in retailers' power at the expense of manufacturers, as well as new tools available to inventors. So the update is welcome. For 8 chapters, the reader is treated to topical information on each recommended step. And it is told in a storytelling style that is quite fun. In fact, I think this is one of the book's strengths: readability. Colorful captions, story vignettes and case studies abound. So while you may be in the thick of Chapter 3 on Prototyping, Manufacturing and Distributing -- a dry topic, at best -- you will nevertheless be treated to interesting story of how Earl S. Tupper was originally inspired by the lid of a paint can to come up with his signature air-tight plastic containers in the 1950's, but that his other major innovation was the creation of "Tupperware Parties" as a massively successful distribution strategy. Another strength of the book is how it offers historical context. Indeed, inventing has been around for a long time. Louis and Jill did a lot of research to contrast what still holds true from what is genuinely new in the inventing field. For example, inventors can still expect to meet entrenched opposition, much like Galileo did when he ultimately had to publicly recant his scientific observations. By the same token, there are really new things that apply today, such as the new USPTO doctrine of "non-obviousness" to obtain a patent. Finally, the glossary of terms, sample Non-Disclosure Agreement and "Personal Roadmap" offer helpful guidance. My only criticism is that in their attempt to cover all topics well, Jill and L

I frequently work with patent attorneys in my business, and have attended Jill Welytoks Inventors' Club in Milwaukee. I bought this book after attending one of the meetings. I thought she was great at facilitating the meeting and asking inventors tough questions. I wamted to see more of what she had to say and was not disappointed by the quality of the legal and practical commercialization advice contained in this book. I recommend this book, and am using Jill for my company's patent work.

Almost every independent inventor struggles daily to answer one question: "What should I do next?" This question can be so difficult to answer in fact that many inventors actually end up doing nothing at all. As a result, many great ideas never reach their full potential. The answer to this enigmatic question can change drastically from day to day and from product to product. Creating a handbook that truly assists each and every one of us inventors in finding the ever-changing answers to this question is obviously a very big challenge, but one that Louis Foreman and Jill Gilbert Welytok have met brilliantly. Regardless of what stage you may be at in the invention process, this book gives you all of the advice, tips, and real-world direction you'll need to keep moving forward, and the inspiration to take the challenging but necessary steps that always precede a successful product launch. As the title claims, this is truly a handbook for inventors. It will certainly be my main reference when any new challenge arises. If you are an inventor who doesn't have all of the answers (and who does?), this is definitely the book for you.