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Bad Ideas: How Our Finest Inventions Nearly Finished Us Off

by Robert Winston
$11.90
Bad Ideas: How Our Finest Inventions Nearly Finished Us Off
Bad Ideas: How Our Finest Inventions Nearly Finished Us Off

Invention's unintended consequences: progress or peril?

If you're someone who relishes understanding the double-edged sword of human innovation, "Bad Ideas" by Robert Winston is a must-read. Winston takes you on a historical journey that’s as enlightening as it is cautionary, exploring how even the most groundbreaking inventions can have unforeseen, often troubling, impacts. This book isn't just an account of scientific progress; it’s a thought-provoking reflection on the ethical ramifications of our relentless pursuit of advancement.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

Bad Ideas: How Our Finest Inventions Nearly Finished Us Off

by Robert Winston
$11.90
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

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This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780593060285
Authors: Robert Winston
Publisher: Bantam Press
Date of Publication: 2010-02-16
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: History, Science
Related Topics: World History, Popular Science
Goodreads rating: 3.56
(rated by 143 readers)

Description

We are born with the instinct to create and invent. Indeed our ability to do so is what separates we humans from the rest of the animal world. The moment man first converted a stone to a useful tool set him on a relentless path toward greater control and power over his environment. But have our creative ideas always produced desirable results in line with their original good intention? How many ill-effects and dangers have they brought about along the way? And have they really served us well? Bad Ideas? traces the fascinating history of our attempts at self-improvement but also questions their value. The dubious consequences of the development of weaponry, for example, is self-evident from the primitive but lethal sling to the devastating nuclear bomb. But what of apparently more innocuous inventions such as farming, writing or medicine? All were initiated for the greater good but have nonetheless produced unforeseen fallout that continues to this day. What are their undesirable side-effects, how did they emerge over the years and where will they take us in the future? Written against a huge historical canvas, we join Robert Winston on a thrilling and inspiring journey from our earliest days to the present. We learn about the history of modern science, engineering, IT and much more, following the unexpected twists and turns of their progress. We meet the individuals who played a key role in their development, and share quirky anecdotes about their lives and brainwaves. Inspiring, unusual
 

Invention's unintended consequences: progress or peril?

If you're someone who relishes understanding the double-edged sword of human innovation, "Bad Ideas" by Robert Winston is a must-read. Winston takes you on a historical journey that’s as enlightening as it is cautionary, exploring how even the most groundbreaking inventions can have unforeseen, often troubling, impacts. This book isn't just an account of scientific progress; it’s a thought-provoking reflection on the ethical ramifications of our relentless pursuit of advancement.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.