Books in Discoveries and Inventions series

During the 1800's, electrical lights, inter-continental transportation, medical advancements, and distribution of labor dramatically altered the ways that people could work, travel, eat, and communicate. This book captures the spirit of discovery that characterized the tumultuous century, while exploring the lasting legacy of these discoveries, and their impact on human life. Illustrated timelines, primary source photographs, and clear diagrams explain the inventions of the era, while informative sidebars add depth. An informative and engaging book about a complicated era of history.

Records show that human beings have been using codes to conceal messages for over 2,000 years! This revealing book traces codes throughout history, from an encryption device used by the Spartans in 400 B.C. to the Enigma Code of the 1940s, pausing to consider coded military secrets and newspaper scoops alike. Students will be delighted by code-cracking diagrams. Illuminating sidebars, primary source documents, and vivid illustrations all add to this attractive volumes appeal.

People in Asia Minor developed the first coin-based currency, but long before that humans would exchange precious objects for the things necessary for their daily life. Currency is a fact of human life, and this book explores its genesis, beginning with those early coins and precious objects and tracing their legacy to the banknotes and fraud-detecting devices of the twenty-first century. Photographs and illustrations explore the remarkable diversity and detail of contemporary currency, while engaging text explores moneys utility and places it within a social context.

Here's a wide-ranging survey of mechanical and technological history that offers more than dates and facts. The evolution ofinvention takes center stage here. The authors believe that how society came to need or want new gadgets and machines is a major part of the history of technology and discovery. For example, Home Entertainment looks at inventions in the early part of the century that were developed to enliven leisure time. But author Rodney Dale and Rebecca Weaver trace the parallel social history as well and discover that: *domestic appliances were reducing the time needed for daily chores *the rise of the suburb renewed the national emphasis on family spirit and happiness *a larger middle class had a bit more money to spend on non-essentials *the growing sciences of psychology and psychiatry were beginning to suggest that enjoyable leisure time was actually healthy and should be encouraged (a far cry from our Puritan beginnings) The phonograph may have been invented to keep us amused after office hours, but it was our growing need to find "self-fulfillment" in play as well as work that made its invention necessary. Each book is a superbly illustrated survey of one aspect of modern life and how it has grown in response to the social changes of the times. Patents, models, photos, advertisements, cartoons, and sketches from contemporary sources provide interesting and entertaining illustrations from the swift and often humorous text. From the quill pen to the computer, from the Magic Lantern to television--these books look at why as well as how we've come such a very long way.

It has been nearly 200 years since the first dinosaur remains were found in southern England, and in that time these fascinating creatures from long ago have lost none of their hold on our imagination. This book explores the history of dinosaurs and their time on earth. A detailed timeline traces the archaeological discoveries that inform todays study of prehistoric life, and clear, informative illustrations and diagrams explore different kinds of dinosaurs, their appearance and scale, habitats and intellect, and the fossils they left behind.