Description
In this incisive history of human ingenuity, the author examines how inventions move—or fail to move—from bold idea to practical innovation. Using vivid examples ranging from airships, nuclear power, and supersonic flight to leaded gasoline, DDT, and CFCs, he reveals how hype, unintended consequences, and misplaced confidence can shape the fate of transformative technologies. Clear-eyed and richly informed by science and history, the book challenges popular assumptions about progress while distinguishing genuine achievement from technological promise. It concludes by considering the inventions and innovations most urgently needed to address the complex challenges of the twenty-first century.
Available Editions
paperback
MIT Press
Published Feb 14, 2023
227 pages
ISBN: 9780262048057
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Details
First Published
2023
Language
eng
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for Invention and Innovation: A Brief History of Hype and Failure by Vaclav Smil.