Table of Contents
Acknowledgments 11
Introduction Great Inventors and Failure 13
The Historic Age
Understand Physics 21
Leonarde da Vinci's Walk-on-Water Shoes: (1452-1519)
Start With a Good Idea 37
James Watt's Apparatus for Administering Medicinal Airs: (1736-1819)
Write it Down 49
Robert Hooke's Flying Machine Powered by Artificial Muscle: (1635-1703)
The Golden Age
Give People What They Want 73
Thomas Edison's Concrete Piano: (1847-1931)
Try not to be Too Weird 93
Nikola Tesla's Earthquake Machine: 1856-1943)
Don't kill Your Customers 109
Henry Ford's Flipping Fordson: (1863-1947)
Be on the Side of the Successful 123
George Washington Carver's Miracle Peanut Cure: (1864-1947)
Be Sure the Market is Ready 133
Alexander Graham Bell's Six-Nippled Sheep: (1847-1922)
Have Adequate Funding 145
Elihu Thomson's Quartz Telescope Mirror: (1853-1937)
The Modern Era
Pay Attention to Details 157
Danny Willis Paint Can Robot: (1956-)
Be Agreeable 167
J. Walter Christie's Flying Tank: (1865-1944)
Make Sure You Aren't the Only One Who Thinks It's a Good Idea 183
George Davison's Popcorn Volcano: (1963-)
Please the Buyers and the Sellers 191
Jerome Lemelson's Flying Balloon: (1922-1997)
Stick to What Know, Mostly 203
Stanley Mason's Chinese Tallow Tree Plantation: (1921-2005)
Avoid Accidents 213
Buckminster Fuller's Fish-Shaped People Carrier: (1895-1983)
Have Perfect Timing 229
Leo Szilard and Albert Einstein's Howling Refrigerator: (1898-1964 and 1879-1955)
Endnotes 241