Recounts the history of 100 of the most significant 20th century inventions
Imagine your average day without zippers, airplanes or vacuum cleaners, without your clock radio or your personal stereo, without photocopiers. All of these devices were invented within the last hundred years and have since transformed our daily landscape.
Drawing on The British Library's vast and comprehensive collection of patents, this handsomely illustrated book recounts the history of 100 of the most significant inventions of the century, decade by decade.
From the photocopier to the Slinky, from genetic fingerprinting to the Lava Lamp, from the ballpoint pen to the fuel cell, Inventing the Twentieth Century is an informative, illuminating window onto the technology of the twentieth century. It's the perfect gift book for every inventor and tinkerer in your life!

It's the perfect gift book for every inventor and tinker in your life!"Remarkable . . . get the book for yourself. It'll hold you for many hours." (Wall Street Journal)"A fascinating compendium for trivia seekers." (Publishers Weekly)>"Highly entertaining . . . " (Boston Globe)

About the Author
The author of Inventing the 20th Century: 100 Inventions that Shaped the World and American Inventions: A History of Curious, Extraordinary, and Just Plain Useful Patents (both available through NYU Press), Stephen Van Dulken is an expert curator in the Patents Information Service of The British Library.

Reviews
"Remarkable . . . get the book for yourself. It'll hold you for many hours." * Wall Street Journal *
"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 fascinating compendium for trivia seekers." * Publishers Weekly *
"A wonderful book" * L.A. Daily Breeze,Oct. 19, 2001 *
"One more treasure trove for trivia addicts." * Herald-Republic *



Book Information
ISBN 9780814788127
Author Stephen van Dulken
Format Paperback
Page Count 246
Imprint New York University Press
Publisher New York University Press
Weight(grams) 363g