Great Inventions that Changed the World

A great invention opens the door to a new era in human history. The stone axe, for example, invented some 2 million years ago in East Africa, enabled us to enter the human path of endless improvements through inventions. The taming of fire enabled us to cook food as well as leave the warmth of Africa and move to the frigid lands of the North. From the stone axe to the computer and the Internet, this book provides a fascinating tour of the most important inventions and inventors throughout history. You'll discover the landmark achievements and the men and women that made the world what it is today.

Great Inventions That Changed the World is written by Professor James Wei, a renowned educator and engineer who holds several patents for his own inventions. Following an introductory chapter examining the role of inventors and inventions in fueling innovation and global advancement, the book is organized to show how inventions are spurred by human needs and desires, including:

• Work
• Food, clothing, and housing
• Health and reproduction
• Security

As you progress through the book, you'll not only learn about inventions and inventors, but also the impact they have had on our lives and the society and environment in which we live today. Inventions solve problems, but as this book so expertly demonstrates, they can also directly or indirectly create new problems as well, from pollution to global warming to bioterrorism. By enabling us to understand the impact of inventions throughout history, this book can help guide the next generation of citizens, decision makers, and inventors.

About the Author

James Wei was born in China in 1930, when every student was urged to study engineering or medicine. He came to the US in 1949 and studied chemical engineering at Georgia Tech and MIT, but his minor was in Fine Arts at Harvard. He worked in Mobil Oil for many years in research, but was sent to Harvard Business School and to corporate planning. After fifteen years in industry, he changed direction to become a professor at the University of Delaware. He served as Department Head of Chemical Engineering at MIT 1978-1988, and as Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Princeton University 1991-2002. He received numerous awards for research and teaching from professional societies, and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.