Gadget Nation: A Journey Through the Eccentric World of Invention (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Greenberg, a writer and "innovation insider" who works the quirky device beat, looks into a number of those "why didn't I think of that" (and "why did anyone think of that") products in this colorful, fully illustrated guide. From the incredible (bird diapers) to the practical (mom's third arm, a flexible bottle-holding device that attaches to car seats) to the ingenious (the slanket, a blanket with sleeves) to the goofy (a kitchen utensil for turning a hot dog into an octopus), Greenberg profiles odd products and the oddballs behind them, dutifully chronicling the ups and downs of inventor-dom. Though the products are interesting, the real story is in the arduous trip from garage to store shelf, a long, expensive and risky enterprise. Greenberg finds inventors in all stages of the process, many of whom face the chilling prospect of losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's the exceptions that drive them: Craig Ramsell's Boomwhackers, a brightly colored children's musical instrument; Bob Sotile's Conedoms, ice cream cone holders that save fingers from drips; and Todd Greene's Headblade, an ergonomic scalp razor, have all earned their creators millions. Non-inventors will enjoy the bizarre product showcase, while inventors will benefit from the case studies, back stories and Greenberg's insightful tips on product development, trademarking and patents.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description

Featuring more than 100 quirky innovations and inventions, this visual showcase captures a great can-do spirit and creative energy. All the clever amateur creators profiled here brought their ideas to life right in their own homes; the fruits of their imagination range from the useful (a "Finger Shield" for when you're chopping food) to the offbeat (a nappy for your pet bird). There are items for people on the go, to help you look your best and to make life easier at home - and electronics too. Get the background story on every invention, along with a statistics-filled sidebar, photographs, illustrations and diagrams to add to the fun!

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (May 6, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140273686X
• ISBN-13: 978-1402736865
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #127,122 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Heart of a Nation, April 20, 2008

By	Jeff Ronci (Miami) - See all my reviews

Steve Greenberg's book is funny, informative and--this part surprised me--quite touching. The drive, imagination and optimism of these inventors, wacky though some may be, form the heart of what makes America, and the human being, so great. Can't wait for the author's next book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gadgets are Great !!, April 18, 2008

By	D. Prokop "www.JelliRolls.com" (Sammamish, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is 240 pages of creative and wacky inventions. All of the inventions solve a problem, some problems not too important, others we struggle with every day and wish we would have thought of that! I read every page and tried to guess if the product made money or not. Most of the time I was surprised the inventor didn't make more money, because they had such a good idea! I would have liked this book to go into more details of how to bring an invention to market, make it yourself or license it to a manufacturer? However, this collection of products illustrates the huge number of great inventions we never hear about, probably only 10% of these every make it onto store selves. What website can we buy them from?
Thanks Steve, keep up the good work.
David

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY COOL, April 21, 2008

By	Laurie - See all my reviews

I loved it. I learned so much about what goes on in the making of inventions. I'm curious what my neighbors are doing in their spare time! A great conversation starter. I'm usually not interested in this stuff but the way the book was written made it easy to follow. I am looking for other books by Steve Greenberg. I am definately a fan.