The Greatest Science Stories Never Told: 100 tales of invention and discovery to astonish, bewilder, and stupefy [Hardcover]

Rick Beyer (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 3, 2009

Rick Beyer, the author of the acclaimed History Channel® series The Greatest Stories Never Told, returns with new historic tales, this time focusing on amazing stories of invention and discovery, in The Greatest Science Stories Never Told. Illustrated with photographs from around the globe, The Greatest Science Stories Never Told tells of inventors both famous and forgotten, and zeroes in on eureka! moments in science and history that changed our world forever.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"True stories about scientists show that the path to innovation is rarely straight-forward."

--Science News

"Here we learn who and how Band-Aids were first made, ditto ear muffs. Goodyear filled a notebook full of ideas for things to do with rubber. Except make tires. And so on through 100 wonderful stories." --AMT Events --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

100 tales of invention and discovery to astonish, bewilder, & stupefy

• Meet the angry undertaker who gave us the push-button phone.
• Discover how modesty led to the invention of the stethoscope.
• Find out why Albert Einstein patented a refrigerator.
• Learn how a train full of trumpeters made science history.

Did you know about:

• The frustrated fashion designer who created the space suit?
• The gun-toting newspaperman who invented the parking meter?
• The midnight dreams that led to a Nobel Prize?

They're so good, you can't read just one!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harper (November 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061626961
• ISBN-13: 978-0061626968
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #204,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Patents & Inventions

More About the Author

I am a documentary filmmaker, an author, and a lifelong history enthusiast.

My first book, "The Greatest Stories Never Told: 100 tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder and Stupefy" was published in 2003. It was inspired by a series of history minutes I produced for The History Channel entitled "Timelab 2000." Little did I know that it was the beginning of a popular series of books, now numbering five with "The Greatest Music Stories Never Told."

I am a lifelong student of history, I have been interested in it as long as I can remember--probably thanks to my dad, who is also a long time history enthusiast. When I was a boy my parents bought me a set of those Time-Lie history books loaded with heroic color illustrations. They captured my imagination and never let go. I've been inundating long-suffering family and friends with tales from history ever since. But it took quite a while before I found a way to work history storytelling into my job description.

I have been making history films and videos for about a decade. I have done work for The History Channel, National Geographic, and the Smithsonian Institution, among others, making films on everything from the Emancipation Proclamation to the Wright Brothers.

A current project close to my heart is a documentary entitled "The Ghost Army." It is a World War II story of deception, showmanship, art and ingenuity kept secret for nearly 50 years. You can find out more about it at www.ghostarmy.org .

Other things I've done in my life:

oInterview Jimmy Carter
oClimb Mt. Wahington 4 times
oGet called stupid by David Brinkley
oGraduate from Dartmouth College
oBe consoled by Mary Tyler Moore
oSki race in Norway
oGet married during a lightning storm

I currently live in Lexington, MA, with my wife (see above.) We have two children.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unconventional Wisdom November 17, 2009

By Harry Forsdick

Format:Hardcover

The English naturalist John Ray said "Nothing was invented and developed at the same time". As a result, for every invention, there are many back stories that fuel Rick Beyer's latest book about science and invention, a welcome addition to his "Greatest Stories Never Told" series. Think the Ferris Wheel refers to the material used to build it? Wrong. Think coin operated vending machines are a product of the 20th century? Wrong again. Beyer answers these questions and many more in a delightful, easy to read set of 100 stories.

Beyer's whit and wimsy is present throughout, making this tour through 2200 years informative, entertaining and engrossing. More than once, as I finished one of the two page articles, I said, "I'll read just one more...".

Who would like this book? Certainly people of all ages interested in science, engineering and invention. "Greatest Science Stories Never Told" also makes a great gift for a teenager who will be fascinated by the off-beat tales that frequently break with legendary accounts. The stories are organized by time, each including an accessible description of the invention or scientific principle, excellent historical illustrations and further back stories about related inventions or scientific developments.

Are these the standard stories about science and invention? No way. Rather you will read unconventional accounts about the frustrations, failures, insights and victories of scientists, engineers and inventors.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, weird and impossible to put down November 20, 2009

By B. Moran

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Ever wonder what happened to Einstein's eyeballs? OK, maybe not, but I'll bet you're curious now, aren't you? Beyer's book is full of fun and weird stories about the first computer bug (yes, there was an actual bug), the inventors of Kitty Litter and the Erector Set, and yes, the fate of Einstein's brain and eyeballs. Who knew that the first computer mouse was made with a roller ball from Ban deodorant? Not me, which is why I found this book impossible to put down. Reading it was like eating a box of candy - I kept saying, "OK just one more," until it was done. This book is the perfect gift for the science, technology and invention buffs on your list. Kudos to Beyer for a job well done.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes me want more .... December 15, 2009

By John J. Vittal

Format:Hardcover

Some would call this perfect for bathroom reading. But it's much, much more than that.

Coupled with an innate sense of humor, Beyer has once again created a masterpiece. 100 short vignettes (each only 2 pages with lots of graphics) that is easy to read, interesting, historically accurate, and fun. And, it's not even about the science and inventions themselves. That only provides the backdrop for the real stories about the science and inventions that you've never heard about for one reason or another, and this is what Beyer focuses on. And, the stories are truly fascinating.

When I got the book, it took a while for me to pick it up. But, once I did, I couldn't put it down. Such whimsy and accuracy all in one package. Fantastic!

Indeed, I was hooked early on. But even more so when I got a little more than half way through the book and discovered some things that I actually experienced myself, lucky dog that I am. For example, my father was friends with Bill Lear, with whom I spent some time as a youngster growing up, and used a prototype of the 8-track he developed (and flew in his prototype Lear Jet). Later, I used Doug Engelbart's original mouse; it was the most accurate pointing device I've ever used and wish these newfangled optical wireless thingies were that good. And his demo that Beyer talks about, NLS, was truly amazing, especially for the time, and the start of what all of us do today when we use a computer. And, I know Ray Tomlinson, having done a thing or two in the development of email myself, building on what Ray started. Also, my wife was one of the members of the commercialization team for Post-it Notes.

All that says that I took his book even more personally than I thought I would. And, you probably will, too. Enjoy!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars This book is for kids. Not at all what I expected October 15, 2010

By kimberlyt

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is a square-shaped hardcover that reads like it was meant to be in front of the toilet or perhaps in a middle school or elementary school. It reminds me of all the books I read at that age that didn't go into ANY depth about the stories they were telling, leaving you with a vast confused feeling that there should have been more space devoted to each story and less stories or more pages in the book.

The layout is in chronological order and each 2-page spread highlights a famous person. There is a very brief text on the left, and pictures with blurb tidbits on the right. So they'll say something like (to paraphrase) "Abe Lincoln developed a way to float barges across sandbars. He is the only president to hold a patent. Many engineers probably invented better ways, but could they have been successful presidents?" It doesn't say how his idea worked or how those "other engineers" could have improved the idea. Instead, it gives you an annoying thumbnail of Lincoln's sketch that is too small to make out and tells you something about how he liked to wear big stovepipe hats and store papers in it.

I am disappointed with this book. Each story has the potential to be so interesting and informative, but instead you don't really learn anything from this book because of the scanty 3 paragraphs alotted for each.