Atom Bomb to Santa Claus

Atom Bomb to Santa Claus by Trevor Homer

Thank you Net Gallery and Thistle Publishing. This book will be released November 29, 2018.

This easy read is about the history of inventions broken down into chapters such as science/technology, weapons, architects, writers, singers, crime, health, containing how inventions started and improved. Like razors, coat hangers, tv, toasters, vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, bubble gum, fortune cookies, teddy bear and yes Viagra.

I was surprised how long Christmas lights have been around. Always thought other countries were beyond the United states in inventions. I was wrong. This quick read is interesting and fascinating. I've learned so much. Interesting to know what people did before some of these inventions. There is also woman inventors in this book, teens who invented amazing things, and accidental discoveries. I believe my favorite chapters and topics are writers, crime, criminals, health and safety. I think the author should write more books like this.

Cherie'

Who knew? This was a fun and quick read! I never really gave to much thought to how much the US contributed to the world in inventions! I think ages 8-108 will enjoy reading this book. So much, well researched info on so many items! Thanks, Trevor Homer! Fun read!

Americans are never shy when it comes to blowing their own trumpets, but this compendium of facts about American inventors and inventions is the work of an Englishman, Trevor Homer. It may also provide ammunition for those who say that America doesn't need to be made great again, because it always has been great.
With a subtitle that nods to a Monty Python sketch from "The Life Of Brian", the book details inventions which can be found in any home or workplace worldwide - and even outer space.
Atom Bomb to Santa Claus features all manner of trivia which will provide pub bores enough fascinating facts to last for years. Over 20 plus chapters, the books details scores of inventions and the people responsible for their design and patenting. Every so often there are historical asides about the various people involved in perfecting, advertising or using some new device. Some inventions take off almost immediately, while others take longer to achieve widespread use. The aim is to ease the lot of the general public, be it by means of sliced bread (an American invention) the electric light bulb (a joint American/British invention) and many thousands more. Currently, there are more than 2 million American patents still in force.
At times, the chapters read like pages from an encyclopedia, but overall the mood is light and humorous.
This would make an ideal Christmas stocking filler for Europeans wishing to discover just what Americans have done for them and for Americans to prove that they can be just as creative and innovative as their counterparts in Europe. To reinforce the latter, the author points to a quote by the novelist John Updike --- "America is a vast conspiracy to make you happy."

My thanks to Thistle Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

This was an absolutely delightful collection of short (1 or 2 page) vignettes about inventions or developments by Americans. It’s written by a Brit with a very British lean and also their typical humor when talking about their American cousins.

It’s factual, but presented in a light hearted manner. There’s a lot to be learned here about contributions made by Americans.

This is a great book to keep in the car for those times stuck in traffic or to keep in one’s purse for times in waiting. I have the Kindle version on my cell phone so it’s ever ready to pull out for 5 minutes’ enjoyment or … 50 minutes. It’ll keep a smile on your face!

Highly recommended! 5 stars all the way!

I received my advanced reader's copy from NetGalley and Thistle Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

A book that is both funny and informative. I really like the style of writing, full of humour, and the well researched content.
An interesting and funny book, entertaining and enjoyable.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Thistle Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC

Here’s a great gift idea for those “hard to buy for” on your lists, and also because it’s a fascinating read. This book will also give you some good material for conversational ice-breakers. According to the author, an Englishman, “this book is based on a lifelong obsession with obscure facts, and a deep admiration of the great democratic experiment which is the United States of America.” Get ready for a fun compilation of famous and not so famous American inventions.

I am a patriotic American, so I was eager to read this book. I am glad that the author also notes, “The USA is a long way from being a Utopia, but it remains unmatched in the sum of its benefits, and it has given to the world a clear vision of how much can be achieved by the human spirit when it is set free to roam and do the best it can.”

This book is organized with a different topic for each chapter.
From Home, Work, Food, to Singers and Writers, Sports and Business, Unlikely Inventors, and Masters of Change, the author gives us a succinct overview of the inventor and inventions, with some “the rest of the story” gems. Of course, Thomas Edison makes the list, but so does the inventor of the coat hanger (not invented until 1903!)

Basketball is my favorite sport, so I enjoyed reading about its peach basket origins. And the invention of the zipper has a strong tie to my hometown.

Because of an annoyance, that he may have been more attuned to due to his blindness, Ralph Teetor invented the cruise control device.

Several creations came about because of the Great Depression, when out of work individuals came up with a good idea. Monopoly and Scrabble are still well-loved examples. The author shares fascinating tidbits throughout the book and for Monopoly he tells that during World War II, Monopoly was produced and shipped to prisoners of war in Germany. Some of the games contained real money, maps and other items to help prisoners escape.

Some inventors made fortunes and some absolutely nothing. Estee Lauder is quoted, “I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.”

The author is careful to credit other countries for contributing to many of the discoveries. Three cheers for the ingenious, inventive, United States of America!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thistle Publishing for and review copy. This is my honest review.

America invented everything from safety pin to atom bomb. This is the premise of this book. You can take it or leave it. If you decided to go with it, this book would be an entertaining read. I think it would be interesting for kids with their millions of ‘why’. Just give them this book and leave them alone.
There are a lot of inventions and their stories. There is a bit of history for each invention too.
All in all, a light fun read. If you did not know where Viagra started or who invented bra or safety pin, this book is for you.
Have fun.

For a trivia buff like me, this book is a treasure. Starting at Thomas Alva Edison and his inventions and going thru new inventions and innovations in the home, work, science, technology to name just a few. The criminals, the mob, and weapons of war are all covered. So many things packed into one book. Easy to read, very informative and just really interesting. I'm in love. I received this book from Net Galley and Thistle Publishing for a honest review. The opinions expressed are my own. Really great book.

A wonderfully entertaining book ,a book about America’s contributions amazing how many there are.A book that is entertaining for the young and older.Type of book you learn from as you enjoy.#netgalley #thistlepublishing,

We’re not perfect. We’re not right or justified in a lot of what we’ve done and do. We have lots of room for improvement. But by gum, we’ve done some good things, some amazing things and some fun things – like Thomas Nast’s vision of Santa Claus.

Atom Bomb to Santa Claus is a whirldwind tour of the different things that have been invented, done by, or come out of the United States of America. It is a fun read, especially these days. Sometimes picking up a newspaper makes it hard to remember all the different things America has contributed to the world, although the value and the benefits of the contribution of some things (television, the internet, hot dogs) might be debatable.
The book is organized in categories - the home, food, drink, so if you have a topic that particularly interests you its easy to flip to a section to read about it. There are plenty of inventions people will know and recognize such as the telephone, the television, and the hotdog. Others you might not know the story behind, such as liquid paper and the post-it note. The history of each item is laid out in a brief succinct parapraph, making this a perfect book for the restroom or a commute.
Some of the "inventions" are more discoveries, like the black hole or quasars, while others are a bit bombastic, and not ones I would necessarily attribute solely to the USA.
If you have someone who is interested in how things were made, discovered, or invented, or who likes books of trivia or facts, I would recommend. It might also be a good jumping off point for teachers in school libraries teaching in makerspaces, or doing units on business or entrepreneurship. Also recommended for public libraries.

This book is about everything being here in America. You kind of have to wrap your head it. in this book There are a lot of inventions and their stories. There is a bit of history for each invention too.

This was a great book about American innovators and inventors that was written by a British author. This book was interesting and informative and provided a lot of information that I hadn't heard before.