Inventing the 21st Century - Softcover

Surprise and intrigue are rife in this fascinating history of modern inventions. Although we are only ten years into the 21st century, the number of new patents filed bears witness to the ongoing ingenuity of inventors around the world. Already, such inventions as the iPod and the Nintendo Wii have become a commercial phenomenon and it would be hard to imagine life without them. This new book describes 50 of the most interesting inventions of the century so far, from around the world. Using the original patent illustrations Stephen van Dulken paints an illuminating picture of the modern world.

Stephen van Dulken is an expert Curator in the Patents Information Service of the British Library. He is the author of numerous books on the history of patents, including Inventing the 19th Century (2001), Inventing the 20th Century (2000) and Inventing the American Dream (2004), all published by the British Library.