Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy

Financial Times columnist Tim Harford has written a very enjoyable book about the inventions the brought about today’s globalized economy. At the outset he pays tribute to science historian James Burke who brought us “Connections” the late 1970s BBC series on the history of science.As the title notes Harford discusses the origins and the implications of 50 inventions. I note ten of them below to give you a sample:• Barbed Wire – Established the practically of legal boundaries in the American West.• The Pill – Enabled female sexual autonomy that opened the way for women to enter the professions in the 1970s.• The Dynamo – The broad transmission of electrical energy.• The Shipping Container – Without which global commerce would be a shadow of its current self.• The Elevator – Perhaps the foremost mass transit invention that enables dense cities.• Double- Entry Bookkeeping – The way measure and control the efficacy of enterprise.• The Limited Liability Company – Enables risk taking on a grand scale.• The Compiler – Enables computers to be programmed in English (well sort of).• Property Registry – Converts land into tradeable capital.There are, of course 40 more and Harford tells the story of all of them in a very breezy style. The chapters are short and that makes the book easy to put down and pick up with ease.To sum up I highly recommend Harford’s book for lay readers, history buffs and economists alike interested in getting a better understanding how our world came to be.

This review may be biased by the fact that I am an avid reader of Mr. Harford’s work in the FT. That said, I had modest expectations from this book - it was mostly an impulse buy. However, my expectations were left far behind by this superb read! Contrary to what the title may imply, Mr. Harford has not tried to identify the top 50 list (which is sensible since that would only lead to endless debate and discussion). Instead, he simply chose inventions that has had a significant impact on humanity. Furthermore, rather than just explain the story behind the invention, he has tried to explain the (often unintended and wider) consequences of the invention. This was perhaps the most fascinating part of the story for me (even if I didn’t fully agree with the implications in some cases). Consequently, this book ended up giving me the rare pleasure of a unique alchemy of deep insight of a well written non-fiction book with the guilty pleasure of a fantastic piece of fiction (which is a testament to Mr. Harford’s outstanding capability to tell a good story). In my humble opinion, this book is a must read for everyone!

My daughter bought me this book for Christmas. I was excited to read about the 50 best inventions. What I got was the 15 best inventions and the 35 best items a solid liberal could wrap his agenda up in. An example of the former would be the iPhone or concrete. Examples of the latter would be barbed wire (borders are bad), the Welfare State (all good), and antibiotics in good (at first good but really just bad). Multiply that times 35 and add a solid Trump hate/insult. I just feel bad that this author actually duped my daughter into thinking it was unbiased and without agenda.

This is a professional book, expertly written and carefully sourced. It is also Harford's weakest book to date. The problem is that listicles are a dull way to present information. The overall narrative is flimsy at best. Yes, the 50 selections are somewhat surprising and the effects of these things aren't always positive. And? Like most listicles, there isn't much of a point to it all.Harford is at his best when he can take the reader on an entertaining journey. This format does not allow him to do so.

It's an interesting list with each inclusion justified to its contribution - I found the discussion a little brief in some cases as to me there was the assumption that the reader knew a lot about the history of industrial products. That said it's an illuminating read for (say) 16 to 18 yo folks who have seen many inventions as everyday items.

A very interesting selection of the inventions that are at the foundation of the modern economy, and they are not all machines!! Many are legal or social devices, not hardware. Gives one a different paradigm from which to view the influential factors of our lives. Really good book!!

Super interesting. I also really liked that each product was its own chapter, very easy to read. I liked that it's easy to put away and come back to it later. Referred this book to a lot of folks.

Tim is a brilliant economist, observer, and storyteller. His early book "Messy" ranks as one of my all-time favorites, so I purchased his newest publication the day it was released and thoroughly enjoyed it. "50 Inventions" is engaging, fun, and insightful. It starts with a broad aperture that examines everything from products and processes to legal constructs that played outsized roles in enabling the modern economy. Along the way, Tim draws out unexpected insights that will change the way you think about the world around you (like the pivotal role the elevator brake played in enabling the modern city). Well worth the read.

I can't recommend this book enough. It covers the stories behind some of the most important innovations that changed the direction and face of our modern economies. For instance, did you know that barbed wire was considered more important and transformative than the telephone?From the humble yet critical plough to futuristic cryptography, the book covers the connections and often tragic backgrounds of many technologies. Through it all it maps the common thread of innovation that has helped to form the tapestry of our complex modern economies.It's immediately informative and easy to digest with short impactful chapters dedicated to each invention. This is definitely a book that will stay in your collection and influence your approach to creative thinking, especially when it comes to solving problems.

Leggibilissimo, ricco di curiosità e storie poco note, nonostante la loro fondamentale importanza nell'economica del mondo contemporaneo. Da leggere per chiunque sia appassionato di economia, di storia o semplicemente di racconti curiosi su fatti realmente accaduti.

El libro me ha llegado sucio, con manchas, y con las esquinas destrozadas, lo voy a devolver ahora mismo.