Why read The Most Powerful Idea in the World?

Book cover of The Most Powerful Idea in the World: A Story of Steam, Industry, and Invention

Book description

If all measures of human advancement in the last hundred centuries were plotted on a graph, they would show an almost perfectly flat line—until the eighteenth century, when the Industrial Revolution would cause the line to shoot straight up, beginning an almost uninterrupted march of progress.

In The Most…

Explore

Topics

The Industrial Revolution

Genres

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Most Powerful Idea in the World as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Peter H. Spitz

Author

This is a chestnut of a book that's well worth the search. Rosen focuses on the invention of the steam engine and more. Set against the context of the Industrial Revolution, the book examines the concept of intellectual property, the dual spurs of creativity and commerce, and the push to invent and then bring the invention to life.

Before I read it, I took a step back to consider the vast importance of the team engine in changing our way of life. Then, I delved into Rosen's look at the many people involved and felt as if I were there…

From Peter's list on The best books for passionate innovators.