A lively history seen through the fifty inventions that shaped it most profoundly, by the bestselling author ofย The Undercover Economistย andย Messy.
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Who thought up paper money? What was the secret element that made the Gutenberg printing press possible? And what is the connection between Theย Da Vinci Codeย and the collapse of Lehman Brothers?ย
Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economyย paints an epic picture of change in an intimate way by telling the stories of the tools, people, and ideas that had far-reaching consequences for all of us. From the plough to artificial intelligence, from Gilletteโs disposable razor to IKEAโs Billy bookcase, bestselling author andย Financial Timesย columnist Tim Harford recounts each inventionโs own curious, surprising, and memorable story.ย
Invention by invention, Harford reflects on how we got here and where we might go next. He lays bare often unexpected connections: how the bar code undermined family corner stores, and why the gramophone widened inequality. In the process, heย introduces characters who developed some of these inventions, profited from them, and were ruined by them, as he traces the principles that helped explain their transformative effects. The result is a wise and witty book of history, economics, and biography.
