The 100 Greatest Inventions Of All Time: A Ranking Past and Present

by Tom Philbin

An in-depth look at the top one hundred inventions through the ages examines details of the setbacks and the breakthroughs, as well as anecdotes describing the methods behind the creation and workings of such innovations as the air conditioner, Faraday's electric motor, the Colt pistol, and more. Reprint.

Paperback

First published August 1, 2003

About the author

Tom Philbin is a writer of numerous books and has also written articles for a variety of magazines, including Parade, Woman's Day, and Reader's Digest. He lives in Centerport, New York.

Reviews

[Nattapon Chotsisuparat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 100 Greatest Inventions of All Time A Ranking Past and Present by Tom Philbin. This book was first published in 2003 so as of writing this review in 2025 it’s a bit outdated. Many modern technologies that now shape our daily lives such as smartphones, generative AI, drones and 5G networks aren’t included. That said it's still an enjoyable and insightful read especially for those who love exploring how key inventions have shaped human progress. The book includes a fascinating range of innovations, from the wheel, compass, battery, microscope, laser, submarine, radio, rifle, television, etc. Each entry is about 4–6 pages long not too detailed but concise enough to give readers a good understanding of each invention's impact and history. It’s a great introduction to the most influential inventions in human history. I really enjoy books like this that highlight the power of ideas, things, thinkers to change the world.

[Aunu · Rating 4 out of 5]

beberapa pencipataan paling besar dalam peradaban manusia demikian menonjol sehingga banyak orang yang dapat menyebutkanya-roda, bola lampu, pesawat terbang, telepon. tetapi bagaimana dengan kaca mata, kertas, paku, sekrup- bahklan cat? Diawali dengan perbedaan penting antara "penciptaan" dan "penemuan", dan dengan bantuan ahli dalam ilmu pengetahuan dan industri, pengarang Tom Philbin menyusunnya. Belum pernah ada buku seperti ini, 100 Penciptaan (penemuan) Terbesar Sepanjang Masa.

[Farizal Assilmi]

nothing