В последние годы держится мода на «микроистории» вещей, изменивших мир. Интересные и полные неожиданных нюансов, они тем не менее часто оставляют после себя ощущение, что автор хватил лишку. Носки, конечно, вещь нужная, но так, чтобы они кардинально изменили ход истории? Вряд ли. Тиму Харфорду, автору колонки Undercover Economist в Financial Times и нескольких хороших книг об экономике окружающей нас повседневности, похоже, удалось избежать близорукости и мозаичности. Все пятьдесят отобранных изобретений, от плуга до криптовалюты, не висят в вакууме, а связаны в единую ткань новых возможностей как с последующими, так и с предыдущими. А чтобы было интереснее, Харфорд оставил за бортом несколько уже поднадоевших хитов рейтингов вроде компьютера и колеса. Помимо конкретных вещей (колючая проволока, таблетки от зачатия, «телеужин», iPhone) это и концепции (консалтинг, право собственности, государство всеобщего благосостояния, банки), и технологии (радар, процесс Габера, на который и сейчас уходит 1% всей вырабатываемой энергии). Злоключения изобретателей и инициаторов — отдельный большой бонус.

Without trying to quantify the most influential inventions, this book explores the profound changes that simple tools or ideas can effect. Harford also emphasizes the hidden legal and political structures that make inventions possible — for example that all the major technologies behind the iPhone were developed under military or government agencies. It’s a very thought provoking read, with interesting stories of the people behind the innovations. ( )

Another clever introduction to historical economics and thoughts on trade, climate change, and the difficulties that the world faces. Some of the material in here will be over surprise to you, and some of the things that are highlighted would never have come to mind when thinking about the 50 inventions that shaped the modern economy. Worth looking at for those that are not just economic scientists, but those with an interest in hell we got where we are. ( )

Fifty Things That Made the Modern Economy is a book that I wouldn’t seek out. I found it while browsing in a bookshop I trust for great recommendations. It’s a book you can dip in and out of as it’s divided into chapters for each ‘thing’ that are relatively short. This was good in some ways – brevity is appreciated when you’re not really into the thing (for me, that’s cuneiform and tradable debt). For things that I was really interested in, the chapters weren’t quite long enough at times (think the cold chain, video games and the iPhone).

However, it can’t be disputed that Tim Harford and his team have put a lot of work into summarising the invention, problems and impact of each item that had an impact on the modern economy. These range from the light bulb to radar, Google to the S bend. Each item makes you pause and think about how it has revolutionised the world for good or not so good (e.g., leaded petrol). It’s also a good taste of items you might want to read more about. For example, I wasn’t aware that the inventor of TV dinners was a woman. Nor was I aware of the financial issues of the inventor of the diesel engine, who has saved me money on fuel economy!

Overall, it’s an interesting idea in a book format that’s good to read in small chunks as there’s no real need to remember the chapters before. Harford writes clearly and concisely, and I’d love to read more from him where subjects are explained in more depth.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com ( )

This was an interesting book, naming and discussing the 50 inventions he believes are the top ones to influence the economy. It was an entertaining read, and gave me another way to look at our history. ( )