Inventions and inventors gifts

From the author of Steve Jobs and other bestselling biographies, this is the astonishingly intimate story of the most fascinating and controversial innovator of our era—a rule-breaking visionary who helped to lead the world into the era of electric vehicles, private space exploration, and artificial intelligence. Oh, and took over Twitter. Australian Financial Review Top 20 Read for 2023​ Elon...

Kay’s Incredible Inventions is the third hilarious middle-grade book from the record-breaking bestselling author of Kay's Anatomy and This is Going to Hurt, Adam Kay. It is illustrated throughout by Adam's friend and fellow award-winning comedian, Henry Paker. Do you ever wonder where the stuff around you all came from? No, not from eBay. I mean, who had the amazing...

What would you do if you found yourself unexpectedly stranded in the past, with your only hope of return being the reconstruction of civilisation from the ground up? How to Invent Everything by Ryan North equips you for just such a scenario. This brilliant guide is not only a compendium of human ingenuity but also an entertaining manual that promises...

Shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2018, Exactly by bestselling author Simon Winchester offers an engrossing historical narrative that delves into the extraordinary achievements of the pioneering engineers and scientists who revolutionised our world through the development of precision machinery. With his trademark eloquence and keen insight, Winchester traces the origins and evolution of precision, from its nascent...

Discover the incredible things we make with plants with best-selling author and science communicator, Jonathan Drori. Did you know that there's seaweed in ice cream, cork in spacecraft, and dandelion in truck tyres? Have you wondered how paper or thread are made, or why the mandrake is so mysterious? Meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated, The Stuff that Stuff is Made...

The most influential inventor of the modern world, Sir Tim Berners-Lee is a different kind of visionary. Born in the same year as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, Berners-Lee famously distributed his invention, the World Wide Web, for no commercial reward. Its widespread adoption changed everything - transforming humanity into the first digital species. Through the web, we live, work,...

The tenth anniversary edition of Longitude by Dava Sobel brings readers a captivating and dramatic recount of one of the greatest scientific quests in history: the search for a reliable method to determine a ship’s longitude at sea. This engrossing tale centres around the epic struggle to solve the “longitude problem,” a scientific conundrum that, for centuries, left sailors adrift...

For over 10,000 years, the human race has been busy altering our environment and embracing 'progress', evolving seamlessly from hunter-gatherers to the modern urban sophisticates we see ourselves as today. But what are the ideas and inventions that enabled humanity to become, by the early 21st century, a majority urban species for the first time? How did the essential infrastructure...

Learn how to design, build, and customise 20 mini-projects in Minecraft, from firefighter planes and deep-sea submarines to hidden bunkers and mini arcade games. There's even a superhero flying school! With detailed instructions, block hacks, and build tips, this book will encourage you to polish old skills and learn new tricks as you create a wide range of fun, bite-sized...

Discover the fascinating story of Ernő Rubik, the inventor of the world-famous Rubik's Cube, and master of creativity and problem-solving! Ernő Rubik was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1944. His mother was a poet and his father a flight engineer. As a child, Ernő loved colours and shapes, design, and geometry. He went to art school but soon realised he...

The bestselling phenomenon - a 6,000-year adventure through the history of books and reading FINANCIAL TIMES, ECONOMIST AND MAIL ON SUNDAY BOOK OF THE YEAR SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH ACADEMY BOOK PRIZE 2023 'Outstanding, universal and unique' NEW YORK TIMES 'A literary phenomenon.' TLS 'Masterly.' ECONOMIST 'Mindboggling' TELEGRAPH Long before books were mass-produced, scrolls hand copied on reeds pulled from...

The Wright Brothers by David McCullough offers readers an enthralling account of the incredible journey undertaken by two pioneering brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright, whose groundbreaking achievements would forever change human history. On a brisk December day in 1903, amidst the sandy dunes of North Carolina's Outer Banks, these unassuming bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio, launched the world's first powered,...

Discover the incredible story of Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance genius whose boundless curiosity and creativity changed the world. Young readers will follow Leonardo from his childhood in the small village of Vinci, Italy, where he sketched animals and dreamed of flying machines, to his training as an artist and his creation of world-famous paintings like the Mona Lisa and...

NOW A MAJOR HOLLYWOOD FILM DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER NOLAN WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR NONFICTION 'Reads like a thriller, gripping and terrifying' - Sunday Times Physicist and polymath, as familiar with Hindu scriptures as he was with quantum mechanics, J. Robert Oppenheimer - director of the Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb - was the most famous scientist...

On April 1, 1976, two scruffy twentysomethings, both named Steve, founded a startup. Their goal: To bring the revolutionary power of computers to everyone. Over the next five decades, Apple reshaped the technology and cultural landscapes, introducing the public to breakthroughs like the mouse, laser printing, CD-ROM, WiFi, digital video, home networking, touchscreen phones, and tablets. Jobs’s obsessive eye for...

Science meets magic in this funny new fiction series, starring Izzy the Inventor and a lovable unicorn. Meet Izzy the Inventor in a laugh-out-loud series that brings together science, magic, and a very lovable unicorn. Packed full of illustrations and easy-to-read text, this series is perfect for beginner readers and fans of Isadora Moon and The Naughtiest Unicorn. Izzy the...

Got a curious kid on your hands? They’ll love this Book Pocket Tonie from best-selling author Adam Kay. All they have to do is pop this Tonie on their Toniebox and they’re set for a whirlwind tour of the world’s craziest, best, and most ridiculous inventions. Ever wondered who invented velcro? Here’s a clue: four paws and wagging tail. What...

The most iconic planes of WWII, the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, DeHavilland Mosquito, and the Avro Lancaster, were all powered by one engine, the Rolls-Royce Merlin. The story of the Merlin is one of British ingenuity at its height, of artistry and problem-solving that resulted in a war-winning design. Published to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day and...

'Celebrates human cognitive diversity, and is rich with empathy and psychological insight' — Steven Pinker Why can humans alone invent? In this book, psychologist and world-renowned autism expert Simon Baron-Cohen puts forward a bold new theory: because we can identify patterns, specifically if-and-then patterns. He argues that the genes for this unique ability overlap with the genes for autism. From...

A baking nightmare makes for slapstick comedy gold in this hilarious Little Gem from a bestselling author and illustrator team. Albert’s dad needs help in the family bakery, but all his son can think about is sport. So he builds a machine like no other: the Doughmaster 5000. It seems to have solved all their problems, until one night, Dad’s...

Dream up your own amazing inventions with this fantastically creative sketchbook! My Amazing Inventions Sketchbook is packed with Andrew Rae's incredible drawings showing all sorts of real inventions that seem too weird to work. How about a dog umbrella? A submarine that looks like a plane... or even a shark. A swimming machine where you don't get wet? A car...

Filled with stunning illustrations and lively, engaging text, The Repair Shop's Dom Chinea guides readers through this celebration of the history and uses of over 100 machines, which have allowed artisans to create beautiful items for centuries. The Repair Shop's Dom Chinea takes you on an exploration of 100 essential machines found in the workshops and studios of the world's...

A groundbreaking treatise by one of the great mathematicians of our age, who outlines a style of thinking by which great ideas are conceived. What inspires and spurs on a great idea? Can we train ourselves to think in a way that will enable world-changing understandings and insights to emerge? Richard Hamming said we can. He first inspired a generation...

Dyson has become a byword for great design, brilliant invention and global success. Now, James Dyson, the entrepreneur who made it all happen, tells his remarkable and inspirational story in Invention: A Life of Learning through Failure. 'By continually challenging ourselves, investing in the future and experimenting, we can continue to make the future. We must never stop. Never, for...

Matt Ridley, in How Innovation Works, presents a fascinating exploration into the nature of innovation, chronicling its history and outlining how it disrupts and enhances our world. Building on his bestseller The Rational Optimist, Ridley delves into the mechanism behind innovation, arguing persuasively for a shift in our understanding of the subject. Innovation is the engine of the modern age,...

Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of his first appearance in the Tintin classic Red Rackham’s Treasure, this book provides an in-depth look at the inventions and discoveries of Professor Calculus and the real-life innovations and people that inspired one of Hergé’s most popular characters. A comprehensive, funny tribute to Professor Calculus, one of the most endearing scientific geniuses in children’s literature....

From the author of Steve Jobs and other bestselling biographies, this is the astonishingly intimate story of the most fascinating and controversial innovator of our era—a rule-breaking visionary who helped to lead the world into the era of electric vehicles, private space exploration, and artificial intelligence. Oh, and took over Twitter. Australian Financial Review Top 20 Read for 2023​ When...

Ideal for readers aged 6 and above with an interest in design and construction. From treehouses to skyscrapers, timber to future tech, Clarke’s well-judged text is heightened by Sae-Heng’s bright, flat images. – The Guardian Get designing and building with architect and TV presenter GEORGE CLARKE. From marvellous materials to future tech – discover the stories behind our homes. Packed...

Pure Invention by Matt Alt takes readers on an exhilarating journey through the rise of Japanese culture and its unprecedented impact on the world. Through compelling narrative and meticulous research, Alt explores how an array of Japanese creations—from the humble Walkman to the revolutionary Nintendo Entertainment System—reshaped global society. As Alt delves into the heart of Japan's influence, he unveils...

The Pencil by Henry Petroski traces the origins of the pencil back to ancient Greece and Rome. Petroski writes factually and charmingly about its development over the centuries and around the world, and shows what the pencil can teach us about engineering and technology today.

The classic story of how Apple became the most valuable company in the world, reissued for Apple's 50th anniversary. Every empire has an origin story. This is Apple's. Before Apple became the most valuable company in the world, it was just an idea sparked in a garage. Return to the Little Kingdom is Michael Moritz's vivid, behind-the-scenes account of Apple's...

How Does it Work? by Maddie Moate peeks inside the science of everyday objects and awesome technology in this beautifully illustrated guide for children aged 6+. In this curiosity-busting factbook, Maddie Moate takes a look inside everyday objects and machines - from fridges to fire engines! Starting in the home, you'll find out how microwaves heat your food and how...

A ground–breaking experiment at a new research farm quickly grows out of control in this modern take on Day of the Triffids from master of creepy sci-fi Dan Smith. The fourth adventure in the Crooked Oak series. When Pete, Krish and Nancy read a story in the local paper about weird gunk being found in a field where sheep have...

Shard engineer Roma Agrawal deconstructs our most complex inventions into seven fundamental objects: the nail, spring, wheel, lens, magnet, string and pump. _____________ 'Delightful' – TIM HARFORD, FINANCIAL TIMES 'Appeals to the nerdy side of just about all of us... a great book to give' – JANE GARVEY 'Splendid. Clearly written, elegantly structured full of facts you are unlikely to...

Discover the life of William Kamkwamba, the Malawian inventor and engineer, who overcame poverty and famine to build windmills from recycled materials that brought electricity to his village. Little William grew up in a small village in Malawi. His parents were farmers, so every day after school, William and his six sisters helped them tend the corn. One year, it...

A simple and fascinating guide to science experiments for children. How can you bend water with a ruler? What makes grass green? How do machines work? What happens if you add raisins to a fizzy drink? Why don't seals freeze in icy water? Can anything stop paper clips from sinking? Science Experiments will show you how to discover the answers...

Insane Mode is the astounding story of the most revolutionary car company since Ford, revealing how, under Elon Musk's leadership, it is bringing to an end the era of gasoline-powered transportation. Hamish McKenzie, journalist and former writer for Tesla, explores how an unlikely West Coast start-up with an audacious dream to create a new successful US car company, went up...

WATERSTONES BEST POLITICAL BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2021LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL ‘I am absurdly excited for this book’ Caroline Criado Perez Bestselling author Katrine Marçal reveals the shocking ways our deeply ingrained ideas about gender continue to hold us back. Every day, extraordinary inventions and innovative ideas are side-lined in a world that remains subservient to men. But...

From a top scientist and the creator of the hugely popular web comic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, an illustrated investigation into future technologies. What will the world of tomorrow be like? How does progress happen? And why don't we have a lunar colony already? In this witty and entertaining book, Kelly and Zach Weinersmith give us a snapshot of the...

See Inside the Future is a lift-the-flap book that invites you to imagine what the world will be like by the end of the 21st century. Join futurologist Tom Cheesewright on a tour of our world, decades into the future. Eight scenes await, revealing what wonders will unfold in our cities, landscapes, inside our own bodies, and in the vast...

The Idea Factory by Jon Gertner is a captivating and meticulously researched chronicle of the most influential hub of technological innovation in the 20th century: Bell Laboratories. This riveting narrative takes readers from Bell Labs' modest beginnings in the 1920s to its dissolution in the 1980s when it stood as the research and development wing of AT&T. The book delves...

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * ‘An imperative how-to for creativity… I adore this book’ Nick Offerman Adam Savage – star of Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters and one of the most beloved figures in science and tech – shares his golden rules of creativity, from finding inspiration to following through and successfully making your idea a reality....

The Spectacular Science of Inventions is guaranteed to answer all those tricky science questions that children ask about machines, technology, and gadgets – and that parents often struggle to answer. Discover who built the first robots, how a text message is sent, if the James Webb telescope revolutionised our knowledge of the Universe, and much, much more! The bright, busy...

1001 Inventions that Changed the Way we Live aims to give you a wide and varied offering of scientific and technological breakthroughs that have shaped and aided human development throughout history. From the first stone flints sharpened by prehistoric man to the spoke wheel and from the first steam-powered machine to manual manoeuvring units for space walks, this book explores...

1001 Inventions is the companion to the record-breaking London exhibit (coming to NY, LA, and NGS). This book is rich with vibrant images and little-known facts that highlight revolutionising discoveries made throughout Muslim history. These discoveries effected world change and continue to shape our world today. 1001 Inventions - The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization takes readers on a journey...

Travel with mischievous cartoon guides The Brainwaves through a range of wittily-explained STEM topics Meet the Brainwaves, hilarious little mischief-makers who will be your guides to a marvellous range of mindblowing science topics - from the wisest and wackiest inventions the world has ever seen to the adventures of pioneering astronauts, plus all the core information you need to know,...