David Boyle 
30-Second Great Inventions 
50 light-bulb moments that changed the world, from the compass to the smartphone, each explained in half a minute

Universal change is often the result of an individual’s lightbulb moment – an invention that triggers a ripple effect across countries, continents, or even out into space.
Great Inventions in 30 Seconds looks at fifty of these groundbreaking innovations – great ideas that really did change the world. It covers a wide range, from early days (the wheel) through materials (the invention of steel, for example, or plastic) to communications (the alphabet, the printing press, the Worldwide Web) and the conveniences of (relatively) modern daily life (refrigeration, indoor plumbing, central heating). It’s a sharp reminder that almost every aspect of life in the second decade of the 21st century is the result of someone’s bright idea, – and one that they acted on to turn it into a viable invention. Along the way you’ll learn all about the personalities behind the inventions: revealing and intriguing in equal measure.

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David Boyle is the author of several books about history, the history of ideas and the future. His Authenticity: Brands, Fakes, Spin and the Lust for Real Life helped put the search for authenticity on the agenda as a social phenomenon, while Funny Money: In Search of Alternative Cash launched the ‘time banks movement’ in the UK. His work on the history and future of money has also been published in many books and pamphlets. He has stood for Parliament and undertaken an independent review for the UK Treasury and Cabinet Office.