Inventions and Inventors (Magill's Choice, 2 Volumes)

This addition to the Magill's Choice series examines 160 of the most significant inventions of the 20th century, and the people behind the inventions. The overall selection of topics has an appealing, eclectic quality. Essays cover such diverse subject areas as High-Tech, including computers, compact discs and cellular phones, to common Household Devices such as polyester, Tupperware and Velcro, and Medical Advances including heart-lung machines, artificial kidneys, and mammography. Articles vary in length from 1,000-2,500 words, each opening with a brief summary of the nature and significance of the invention, followed by a clear analysis of the invention's history and impact. Further study notes at the end of each article will point readers to at least three other published or online sources on the topic.