Great Inventions that Changed the World

JAMES WEI, PHD, began his career as a research scientist for Mobil Oil in 1955. Since then, he has held academic positions at the University of Delaware, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Princeton University. Dr. Wei is the author of eight books and more than 130 research papers. He also holds two U.S. patents and is the former president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

“I highly recommend the very accessible and thought provoking book http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470768177.html"Great Inventions that Changed the World by James Wei, Ph.D., to any business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, history and technology enthusiasts, engineers, and students of history, technology, and engineering disciplines seeking a clear and engaging guide to the triumphs and challenges of the greatest inventions of all time. This book will also introduce the readers to some of the most creative innovators and problem solvers through the ages in a logical and readily understood format.” (Blog Business World, 1 December 2012) “He has written a remarkable and wide ranging work that spans human development from the stone age to the computer age . . . Of course as a chemist, I might wish that our science and industry had featured more prominently in Great inventions, but this is a minor quibble of what is undoubtedly a major work that is nothing less than superb.” (Chemistry World, 14 November 2012)“This isn’t just a book of inventions but also the history of how it changed the world so you also have this incredible history of the world here as well. If you’re creating a reality for any genre, then this is essential reading because you’ll realise a lot of things weren’t just there but was built upon. If you just want to be informed, then you will come away from this book with a formidable amount of knowledge. This is a book worthy of everyone’s attention.” (SFCrowsnest.org.uk, 1 September 2012)

• Foreword viiPreface xi1 Introduction 11.1 Inventors and Inventions 21.2 Innovation, Development, Diffusion 111.3 Changing the World 152 Inventions for Work 452.1 Tools and Methods 462.2 Energy and Power 582.3 Materials 713 Domestic Life: Food, Clothes, and House 813.1 Food 823.2 Clothes 973.3 House 1044 Health, Reproduction 1174.1 Prevention 1194.2 Diagnostics 1264.3 Therapy 1314.4 Reproduction 1415 Security 1535.1 Natural Threats 1535.2 Economic Threats 1575.3 Human Violence: War 1636 Transportation 1976.1 Land Transportation 1996.2 Water Transportation 2056.3 Air and Space Transportation 2167 Information 2297.1 Observation 2297.2 Records 2387.3 Communication 2507.4 Information Tools 2598 Good Life 2818.1 Party and Play 2828.2 Luxury 2948.3 Arts 3049 Future Challenges 3199.1 Future Needs and Opportunities 3199.2 Future Sources of Inventions 325Index 333