Icons of Invention

October 1, 2009
Presenting in-depth discussions of 24 inventions from the 1400s (Gutenberg's printing press) to the early 2000s (a satellite), Klooster ("The Granting of Inventive Rights") defines "iconic invention" as one that is "so significant [it is] widely utilized by and known to the public." Organized chronologically, the 24 chapters ranging in length from 13 pages (Food Preservation) to 65 pages (Electric Power) include an illustration of the invention under discussion. Sidebars on related or other important inventions such as gunpowder appear throughout the text. Retired patent attorney Klooster has selected the entries based on their potential appeal to young adults and emphasizes the invention's history, the inventor's life, and the invention's commercial success. Unfortunately, Klooster relies exclusively on words to convey meaning, and his writing style tends toward verbosity. For example, his explanation of the sewing machine's locking stitch employs five lengthy statements when it would've been much easier for readers, particularly younger teens, to digest simpler sentences and a diagram. BOTTOM LINE While heavy on the history of the invention and the inventor's life, all of the information found here is available through other sources, including books such as Dan Stuckenschneider's "What a Great Idea!: Inventions That Changed the World" (Scholastic, 2003) and Rodney Carlisle's "Scientific American Inventions and Discoveries" (Wiley, 2004). Most suitable for older teens and adults.Laurie Selwyn, formerly with Grayson Cty. Law Lib., Sherman, TX

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2010
Gr 9 Up-Each of the 24 essays in this set provides an in-depth look into the development of a significant invention or field. Some focus mainly on a single individual, such as Johannes Gutenberg, while others look at multiple key figures; the sewing machine chapter features Walter Hunt, Elias Howe, and Isaac Merritt Singer, for example. Life stories include information relevant to the person's discoveries but also offer personal information when available. Each chapter goes beyond the featured figures and inventions, providing strong background about earlier key developments that led to later achievements. The author does an especially thorough job of exploring the business side of invention, including patents, financing, manufacturing, marketing, and other elements that impacted so many lives. Technical processes are described in some detail, but the lack of illustrations and diagrams may hinder some students from following the sometimes complex descriptions. The passage on Cyrus McCormick's reaper, for instance, is logically composed, but still hard to grasp without a visual reference. Occasional sidebars offer facts about related inventions or other notable figures of the time. The formal prose style is awkward at times, and likely to challenge some students, but this set offers depth and detail not seen in most reference works on the subjects."Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2009
This set considers 24 iconic inventions and their inventors from the early 1400s to the early 2000s. Among the inventions that are covered are the printing press, the reaper, penicillin, television, and the Internet. All of them originated in Europe or the U.S. The chronologically arranged, chapter-length entries contain some technical descriptions but mainly focus on context and backstory: inventor biography, origin of the invention, surrounding circumstances, development, introductory marketing, subsequent events, and so on. The entries are well researched and provide resources for further information. A general bibliography leads the researcher to additional material. A comprehensive index encourages fast location of specific information, while the entries themselves are written with subheadings to ease browsing. This is a valuable addition to any library where patrons are interested in the history and impact of inventions, both old and new. The content is appropriate not only for high-school students but also for college students seeking knowledge about inventions, inventors, and the impact of inventions on society.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)