Inventors, Makers, Barrier Breakers

by Pendred Noyce MD

Overview

What does it take to change the world? This book provides inspiring, in-depth stories of more than 25 diverse American inventors and entrepreneurs from Colonial times to the present. Richly illustrated with photographs in color and black-and-white, Inventors, Makers, Barrier Breakers focuses on the process of invention, its joys and frustrations, social progress, and the obstacles each inventor had to overcome.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781943431427
Publisher:	Tumblehome, Inc.
Publication date:	10/01/2018
Pages:	300
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.50(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Pendred Noyce is a doctor, science education advocate, and author of 12 books of fiction and nonfiction for young people. Three of her books have won Outstanding Science Trade Book awards from the National Science Teachers Association and Children's Book Council.

Table of Contents

1 Lightning Tamer: Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) 11

2 Patents and Promise: Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) 25

3 Inventors Slave and free: Benjamin Montgomery and Other Early African American Inventors (1791-1928) 37

4 Scattered Genius: Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) 51

5 Hair Care Millionaires: Annie Turnbo Malone Madam C. J. Walker (1867-1957) 67

6 A Feeling for Plants: George Washington Carver (c. 1862-1943) 83

7 Feeding the World: Norman Borlaug (1914-2009) 101

8 Food, Glorious Food: Popcorn, Waffles, and More (Pre-History to Modern Times) 117

9 Blood of Life: Charles Drew (1904-1950) 133

10 To Conquer Cancer: Gertrude Elion (1918-1999) 147

11 Computer Whisperer: Grace Hopper (1906-1992) 163

12 Core Memories: An Wang (1920-1990) 177

13 The Chip that Changed the World: Robert Noyce (1927-1990) 191

14 Electronics Visionary: Gordon Moore (b. 1929) 211

15 Fun and Games: Boards and Water Guns (1879-Present) 227

16 DNA Wrangler: Lydia Villa-Komaroff (b. 1947) 245

17 Interplanetary Dreams: Blon Musk (b. 1971) 257

18 What About You? 272

Glossary 276

Bibliography 278

Image Credits 290

Index 301

Editorial Reviews

"This collection profiles both famous and lesser-known American inventors, entrepreneurs, and scientists from the 18th century to the present day, covering the social and historical contexts of their work. Among the well-known individuals included are Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Graham Bell, and George Washington Carver. Women given chapters of their own are: Annie Turnbo Malone and Madam C.J. Walker, who made millions thanks to their African-American hair care products and business initiatives; Gertrude Elion, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist and daughter of Jewish immigrants; Grace Hopper, who broke barriers both in the Navy and the world of computer programming; and Lydia Villa-Komaroff, a scientist of Indigenous and Latinx descent who has done groundbreaking work in the treatment of diabetes. Some chapters offer an overview of particular topics, such as the inventions of enslaved and free blacks, food products, and popular games and toys. The most recent inventor covered is Elon Musk. A final section entitled "What About You?" encourages readers to be innovators, explicitly calling attention to the tremendous diversity (across many dimensions) of the individuals profiled..." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher