A“timely,informative,andfascinating“studyof8inventions--andhowtheyshapedourworld--with“totallycompelling“insightsonlittle-knowninventorsthroughouthistory(ElizabethKolbert,PulitzerPrize-winningauthorofTheSixthExtinction)InTheAlchemyofUs,scientistandsciencewriterAinissaRamirezexamines8inventionsandrevealshowtheyshapedthehumanexperience:-Clocks-Steelrails-Coppercommunicationcables-Photographicfilm-Lightbulbs-Harddisks-Scientificlabware-SiliconchipsRamireztellsthestoriesofthewomanwhosoldtime,theinventorwhoinspiredEdison,andthehotheadedundertakerwhoseinventionpointedthewaytothecomputer.Shedescribeshowourpursuitofprecisionintimepieceschangedhowwesleep;howtherailroadhelpedcommercializeChristmas;howthenecessarybrevityofthetelegraminfluencedHemingway’swritingstyle;andhowayoungchemistexposedtheuseofPolaroid’scamerastocreatepassbookstotrackblackcitizensinapartheidSouthAfrica.Thesefascinatingandinspiringstoriesoffernewperspectivesonourrelationshipswithtechnologies.Ramirezshowsnotonlyhowmaterialswereshapedbyinventorsbutalsohowthosematerialsshapedculture,chroniclingeachinventionanditsconsequences--intendedandunintended.Fillinginthegapsleftbyotherbooksabouttechnology,Ramirezshowcaseslittle-knowninventors--particularlypeopleofcolorandwomen--whohadasignificantimpactbutwhoseaccomplishmentshavebeenhiddenbymythmaking,bias,andconvention.Doingso,sheshowsusthepoweroftellinginclusivestoriesabouttechnology.Shealsoshowsthatinnovationisuniversal--whetherit’ssplicingbeatswithtwoturntablesandamicrophoneorsplicinggeneswithtwotesttubesandCRISPR.
ALCHEMY HARDDISKS US CLOCKS TIMELY
