Highlights fascinating facts about inventions, from the first usage of glue tens of thousands of years ago to 3-D printers used in space. Learn about a forgotten drink turned into a beloved summer treat, the first words ever recorded, a remote controlled boat from the 1800s, and more! Additional features include a table of contents, a phonetic glossary, an index, and sources for further research. The world is full of bizarre and, at times, almost...

Outlines the process of making and patenting inventions and presents innovations in such fields as transportation, appliances, child and pet care, and amusement that did not work, were too early or too late, or failed for other reasons.

Looks at the history of fashion, from rawhide to the synthetic fabrics of the future.

Inventions are new things that nobody has made before. People think of new things to help us with our work and play. What are some new inventions that you use?

During the 1800s, things changed quickly. People were finding ways to make things faster and cheaper. People were finding new ways to do other things, too. Inventors played an important part in these changes. They found new ways to travel. They came up with new ways to send messages to each other. They even found a way to light up the night.

Humans have created visual representations of the world since the dawn of man. While early painting and sculpture was often rudimentary, the history of visual art is characterized by rapid evolution; today's artists use high-tech tools to share their vision. Inventions in the Visual Arts: From Cave Paintings to CAD provides a closer look at the development of cave paintings, sculptures, sketch books, cameras, and computer-aided design software. These...

In the beginning, architecture was synonymous with survival. Early empires built walls to keep enemies out and to define their territory. Inventions including the arch (which was first created by the Romans) and the steel frames that support skyscrapers have elevated architecture to an art form. Inventions in Architecture: From Stone Walls to Solar Panels looks at the innovations responsible for architecture as we know it in the order they were invented....

The earliest civilizations developed writing systems in order to keep records. Since then, writing has evolved to become a complex form of communication. In fact, reading and writing today are often hi-tech endeavors. Inventions in Reading and Writing: From Calligraphy to Kindles discusses (in chronological order) the invention of calligraphy, paper, moveable type, and Kindle e-Readers. The book demonstrates the effect these innovations have had on...