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Patrick Robertson

Patrick Hickman-Robertson

Robertson's Book of Firsts: Who Did What for the First Time Hardcover – November 11, 2011

by Patrick Robertson (Author)

4.5 15 ratings

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Patrick Robertson's compendium of inventions, breakthroughs, and other "first" events is a stunning achievement of over fifty years of research, collecting, and writing. Robertson writes with charm and fluency on a massive range of topics-the first computer, the first department store, the first black head of state (it's not who you think), and a seemingly limitless array of others. The United States, in particular, has been a cradle of innovation-44 percent of modern innovations, by his calculation-and Robertson has identified a first time in America for each entry. Comprehensive yet carefully curated, Robertson's Book of Firsts catalogs watershed events of social relevance. It includes major achievements, like the first women to serve in a regular army (bravo, Canada, and would you believe as early as 1906?), but not mere curiosities, like the first women to serve disguised as men. The result is a catalog of useful inventions and beginnings of trends, an index of American and global culture of a kind you can't get anywhere else. Handsomely designed, elegant, and effortless to read, this is both a work of essential reference and a beautiful gift for history buffs, scientists, inventors, and anyone with an inquiring mind.

Print length

576 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Bloomsbury USA
Publication date

November 11, 2011
Dimensions

7.74 x 1.35 x 9.48 inches
ISBN-10

9781596915794
ISBN-13

978-1596915794
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Patrick Hickman Robertson began compiling his collection of firsts fifty years ago at the age of fourteen. He continued his extensive research in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa before settling down to a career at the BBC's cutting library. The first incarnation of this book, The Shell Book of Firsts, appeared in the UK in 1974 and became an immediate bestseller. Robertson has been a Visiting Scholar the University of North Carolina, a former chairman of the Ephemera Society, and owns the largest private collection of vintage magazines in Britain.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 159691579X
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury USA (November 11, 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 576 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781596915794
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1596915794
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.58 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.74 x 1.35 x 9.48 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,896,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,106 in Trivia & Fun Facts (Books)
- #4,818 in Trivia (Books)
- #58,366 in Humor (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 15 ratings

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Patrick Robertson
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4.5 out of 5

15 global ratings

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Babso

Present

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2014

Verified Purchase

My husband told me about this book. He lost it somewhere along the years, and I bought this for him for his birthday. He was delighted and refers to it often!

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Roberta Shaw

There are a lot of people in this book

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2014

Verified Purchase

If you didn't know or appreciate how vast a field 'firsts' encompassed reading this will surely broaden your horizons. I had to replace a damaged library book otherwise I would not have ever heard of this. Buy it-try it. What d'ya got ta lose? It might even stimulate cerebral improvement.

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AmazonShopper

For the guy who has everything

Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2013

Verified Purchase

This was a Christmas gift for my dad, who owns everything he wants. I struggle every time his birthday, Father's Day, or Christmas come along. This book kept us all entertained for a while! It's a welcome change from all of the electronics that we drown in.

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casharooney

Gift for Dad at Christmas.

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2013

Verified Purchase

He loves this book. Lots of facts, easily absorbed, just right for him. The family will be passing this book around.

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2012

Verified Purchase

Intriguing but tends to require a little effort to follow. However, the research seems to be thorough and with great depth.

One person found this helpful

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J. Pearson

For trivia fans, and others...

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2011

Verified Purchase

I cannot do better than write that the review in the October 29th issue of The Economist expresses both my amazement at the fact and my delight at the wry humor of the author.

One person found this helpful

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altm

Very Interesting Book

Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2013

Verified Purchase

Wonderful book. Great book for those, who like to pick pick up a book and read short stories. Lots of information for the history buff.