deearr's review
4.0
This could easily have been a five star book. The author tackles a tough subject, attempting to choose the best things that have been invented by Americans (or, if not invented by Americans, how a good idea was added to and turned into something better). The chosen stories are highly enlightening and entertaining. While I would have preferred paintings or photos rather than the pen and ink drawings at the beginning of each chapter, the consistency of artwork was a positive. Rather than a march through history, author Kevin Baker has chosen to group inventions together, such as Computing, Apparel, Curing, Trains, etc., and I thought this was a good choice.
"America the Ingenious" is the title, with "How a nation of dreamers, immigrants, and tinkerers changed the world" as the subtitle. In his introduction to the book, Mr. Baker tells us the inventions were "...inspired, shaped, and made possible by the character of our country." He credits freedom as a key to our inventiveness, and recognizes "...the 'ordinary' people who made our progress a reality. I was impressed, and anticipated a fantastic book.
Unfortunately, Mr. Baker unnecessarily injected politics into some of the stories. The chapter describing the Tennessee Valley Authority centered around Progressive Republican George Norris and his battles with his own party. Worse were the constant references to the race or skin color of the inventors. Worse than that were the accusations of racism and bigotry leveled against some of the inventors as part of their introduction, with no facts to back up the statements. Based upon the book’s introduction, I understood the book was about Americans who had given back to their fellow man. I have great respect for all the inventors in this book, and when all is said and done, that respect does not increase or lessen based upon the color of their skin, nor their politics or personal beliefs. I am not sure of Mr. Baker’s intentions, but his constant harangues from the soapbox were bothersome and a distraction.
Overall: An interesting book which discusses inventions that affected the people living then as well as those of us living now, marred slightly when the author veers from his own stated goals. Four stars.
"America the Ingenious" is the title, with "How a nation of dreamers, immigrants, and tinkerers changed the world" as the subtitle. In his introduction to the book, Mr. Baker tells us the inventions were "...inspired, shaped, and made possible by the character of our country." He credits freedom as a key to our inventiveness, and recognizes "...the 'ordinary' people who made our progress a reality. I was impressed, and anticipated a fantastic book.
Unfortunately, Mr. Baker unnecessarily injected politics into some of the stories. The chapter describing the Tennessee Valley Authority centered around Progressive Republican George Norris and his battles with his own party. Worse were the constant references to the race or skin color of the inventors. Worse than that were the accusations of racism and bigotry leveled against some of the inventors as part of their introduction, with no facts to back up the statements. Based upon the book’s introduction, I understood the book was about Americans who had given back to their fellow man. I have great respect for all the inventors in this book, and when all is said and done, that respect does not increase or lessen based upon the color of their skin, nor their politics or personal beliefs. I am not sure of Mr. Baker’s intentions, but his constant harangues from the soapbox were bothersome and a distraction.
Overall: An interesting book which discusses inventions that affected the people living then as well as those of us living now, marred slightly when the author veers from his own stated goals. Four stars.
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