What a Great Idea! Inventions That Changed the World

Another good game to play with my 84 year old dad who is losing his memory. He reads a loud an invention to me in the morning over coffee and has a great time.

What A Great Idea! Inventions That Changed The World by Stephen M. Tomecek Ever since I have read, among many others, 'They All Laughed... From Light Bulbs to Lasers: The Fascinating Stories Behind the Great Inventions That Have Changed Our Lives' by Ira Flatow, I am always on the look-out for similar books in this genre. I have an ardent fascination for the history of science & technology, & have amassed a vast collection of books in this genre. Not only I am interested in the life stories of the scientists & inventors, I am also keen to find out how they went about in the pursuit of the original ideas behind their inventions. I have recently acquired 'What a Great Idea' from a used bookstore. It showcases lively, colourful stories about some significant inventions & discoveries against a historical background e.g. the hand ax, the wheel, the clock, writing, clothing, mathematics, & the computer. It also divides them across five broad time periods ranging - from the ancient world before 3,000 B.C.E.; - the metal age from 3,500 B.C.E. through A.D. 1; - the age of discovery from A.D. 1 through 1799; - the age of electricity & communication from 1799 to 1887; - the age of the atom from 1887 to the present; What I liked about this book are the full-colour diagrams & clear illustrations, which have been well-integrated with brief descriptions of how the inventions work as well as insightful information about their impact on society as well as on subsequent inventions & discoveries. What eventually emerges from this book is a sense of inter-connectedness among the inventions & discoveries that other books often lack. This reinforces what Leonardo da vinci once said, "Everything is connected to everything else." Also, the author's style of presentation is informally straight-forward & visually appealling. Well, if you have that curiosity streak in you about the history of inventions & discoveries, just like I do, I guess you just have to go & get hold of this book. I can assure you, this book gives an entertaining & informative tour.