Invention--that single leap of a human mind that gives us all we create. Yet we make a mistake when we call a telephone or a light bulb an invention, says John Lienhard. In truth, light bulbs, airplanes, steam engines--these objects are the end results, the fruits, of vast aggregates of invention. They are not invention itself.

In How Invention Begins, Lienhard reconciles the ends of invention with the individual leaps upon which they are built, illuminating the vast web of individual inspirations that lie behind whole technologies. He traces, for instance, the way in which thousands of people applied their combined inventive genius to airplanes, railroad engines, and automobiles. As he does so, it becomes clear that a collective desire, an upwelling of fascination, a spirit of the times--a Zeitgeist--laid its hold upon inventors. The thing they all sought to create was speed itself.

Likewise, Lienhard shows that when we trace the astonishingly complex technology of printing books, we come at last to that which we desire from books--the knowledge, the learning, that they provide. Can we speak of speed or education as inventions? To do so, he concludes, is certainly no greater a stretch than it is to call radio or the telephone an invention.

Throughout this marvelous volume, Lienhard illuminates these processes, these webs of insight or inspiration, by weaving a fabric of anecdote, history, and technical detail--all of which come together to provide a full and satisfying portrait of the true nature of invention.

Reader Reviews

(5/5)

Oct 23, 2010

This book explains the incremental steps involved in technologies that changed the world. IT really goes to show that no idea comes from some kind of miraculous inception on its own, and that everything builds upon ideas from others. I like that it mentions the unsung heroes of the past, such as people who worked on the steam engine (and its predecessors) before James Watt, and those who worked on the printing press (as well as typefaces and other required technologies)before Gutenberg.

Elentarri

(4/5)

Feb 09, 2020

Interesting and informative. "Things" are not invented in a vacuum!

Falk

Feb 15, 2016

Michael

(2/5)

Dec 17, 2011

Randy

(3/5)

Sep 05, 2013

Andrew

May 14, 2012

Casey Williams

Dec 28, 2019

Steve

Apr 19, 2010

Tiffany Conner

Aug 28, 2014

Alterstuart

Oct 10, 2014

I enjoyed this book but it doesn't mention Tesla iirc.

Dec 01, 2008

Benjamin Dennis

Nov 03, 2015

William Blair

Jan 01, 2021

Jeffrey Martin

Mar 17, 2011

Two Readers in Love

Feb 02, 2016

Stuart

Mar 29, 2012

Subhadip

Jan 10, 2010

Devereaux Library SDSM&T

(0/5)

Jul 21, 2007

Myke

Mar 26, 2008

Catmampbell

Feb 11, 2010

Keith

Jul 25, 2011

Kevin Arthur

Apr 03, 2012

Kiri

May 06, 2012

Pippa

Aug 04, 2012

Megan

Nov 10, 2012

Charles E

Dec 25, 2012

Renée

Mar 15, 2013

Shannon

Mar 29, 2013

Todd

Jul 12, 2013

Kathryn

Aug 09, 2013

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How Invention Begins: Echoes of Old Voices in the Rise of New Machines

How Invention Begins: Echoes of Old Voices in the Rise of New Machines

How Invention Begins: Echoes of Old Voices in the Rise of New Machines

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Reader Reviews