Gift Guide 2013: Fifty Machines that Changed the Course of History

Fifty Machines that Changed the Course of History

Another book in this “Fifty” series from Firefly books. This one arrived from my library yesterday and I have already devoured most of its contents. Each machine is given a pretty extensive history and, most importantly, the author actively covers the sometimes confused history of just who created the invention initially. This is a great book to flip through when you have a moment, as the entries are only 3-5 pages for each device and yet include a wealth of information. Explores Fifty Machines that Change the Course of History from the Jacquard Loom to the Hubble Telescope and many important inventions in-between.

From Amazon.com…

“Fifty Machines that Changed the Course of History is a fascinating survey of the mechanical devices that propelled 18th-century society into the 19th and 20th centuries.

The book celebrates more than 200 years of technological development at the height of the Industrial Revolution. These are not generic inventions but rather specific, branded machines whose names in many cases have become synonymous with the machine or its purpose.

The entries fall into eight categories relating to their sphere of influence: Industry, Agriculture, Media, Transport, Science, Computing, Energy and Home. Concise text describes the machines, what led to their invention, and the effects on society. Annotated diagrams, illustrations, photographs and “Key Feature” insets enrich the coverage.”

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