{"product_id":"2940169060089","title":"How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World","description":"\u003cb\u003eFrom the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e–bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eWhere Good Ideas\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eCome From\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eEverything Bad Is Good for You\u003c\/i\u003e, a new look at the power and legacy of great ideas.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this illustrated volume, Steven Johnson explores the history of innovation over centuries, tracing facets of modern life (refrigeration, clocks, and eyeglass lenses, to name a few) from their creation by hobbyists, amateurs, and entrepreneurs to their unintended historical consequences. Filled with surprising stories of accidental genius and brilliant mistakes—from the French publisher who invented the phonograph before Edison but forgot to include playback, to the Hollywood movie star who helped invent the technology behind Wi-Fi and Bluetooth—\u003ci\u003eHow We Got to Now\u003c\/i\u003e investigates the secret history behind the everyday objects of contemporary life.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIn his trademark style, Johnson examines unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated fields: how the invention of air-conditioning enabled the largest migration of human beings in the history of the species—to cities such as Dubai or Phoenix, which would otherwise be virtually uninhabitable; how pendulum clocks helped trigger the industrial revolution; and how clean water made it possible to manufacture computer chips. Accompanied by a major six-part television series on PBS, \u003ci\u003eHow We Got to Now\u003c\/i\u003e is the story of collaborative networks building the modern world, written in the provocative, informative, and engaging style that has earned Johnson fans around the globe.\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Penguin Random House","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47113952887024,"sku":"2940169060089","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940169060089_p0.jpg?v=1763670763","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940169060089","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}