Title
The Tinkerers: The Amateurs, Diyers, And Inventors Who Make America Great
Delivery time: 8-12 business days (International)
From its earliest years, the United States was a nation of tinkerers: men and women who looked at the world around them and were able to create something genuinely new from what they saw. Guided by their innate curiosity, a desire to know how things work, and a belief that anything can be improved, amateurs and professionals from Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Edison came up with the inventions that laid the foundations for America's economic dominance. Recently, Americans have come to question whether our tinkering spirit has survived the pressures of ruthless corporate organization and bottomline driven caution. But as Alec Foege shows in The Tinkerers, reports of tinkering's death have been greatly exaggerated.Through the stories of great tinkerers and inventions past and present, Foege documents how Franklin and Edison's modernday heirs do not allow our cultural obsessions with efficiency and conformity to interfere with their passion and creativity. Tinkering has been the guiding force behind both major corporatesponsored innovations such as the personal computer and Ethernet, and smaller scale inventions with great potential, such as a machine that can make lowcost eyeglass lenses for people in impoverished countries and a device that uses lasers to shoot malarial mosquitoes out of the sky. Some tinkerers attended the finest engineering schools in the world; some had no formal training in their chosen fields. Some see themselves as solo artists; others emphasize the importance of working in teams. What binds them together is an ability to subvert the old order, to see fresh potential in existing technologies, and to apply technical knowhow to the problems of their day.As anyone who has feared voiding a warranty knows, the complexity of modern systems can be needlessly intimidating. Despite this, tinkerers can and do come from anywhere, whether it's the R&D lab of a major corporation, a hobbyist's garage, or a summer camp for budding engineers. Through a lively retelling of recent history and captivating interviews with today's most creative innovators, Foege reveals how the tinkering tradition remains, in new and unexpected forms, at the heart of American society and culture.
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⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
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Shipping & Returns
Shipping
We ship your order within 2–3 business days for USA deliveries and 5–8 business days for international shipments. Once your package has been dispatched from our warehouse, you'll receive an email confirmation with a tracking number, allowing you to track the status of your delivery.
Returns
To facilitate a smooth return process, a Return Authorization (RA) Number is required for all returns. Returns without a valid RA number will be declined and may incur additional fees. You can request an RA number within 15 days of the original delivery date. For more details, please refer to our Return & Refund Policy page.
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We provide a 2-year limited warranty, from the date of purchase for all our products.
If you believe you have received a defective product, or are experiencing any problems with your product, please contact us.
This warranty strictly does not cover damages that arose from negligence, misuse, wear and tear, or not in accordance with product instructions (dropping the product, etc.).
Warranty
We provide a 2-year limited warranty, from the date of purchase for all our products.
If you believe you have received a defective product, or are experiencing any problems with your product, please contact us.
This warranty strictly does not cover damages that arose from negligence, misuse, wear and tear, or not in accordance with product instructions (dropping the product, etc.).
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Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.
We accept payments with :
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What is the main theme of 'The Tinkerers' by Alec Foege? A: 'The Tinkerers' explores the spirit of innovation and creativity in America, highlighting how both amateurs and professionals have historically contributed to significant inventions and advancements.
- Q: Who is the author of 'The Tinkerers'? A: The author of 'The Tinkerers' is Alec Foege, who examines the legacy of tinkering in American culture.
- Q: What types of stories are included in the book? A: 'The Tinkerers' includes stories of notable inventors and tinkerers throughout history, showcasing both their challenges and successes in creating innovative solutions.
- Q: How many pages is 'The Tinkerers'? A: 'The Tinkerers' has a total of 224 pages, making it a concise read on the subject of innovation.
- Q: What is the publication date of this book? A: 'The Tinkerers' was published on January 1, 2013.
- Q: What is the binding type of 'The Tinkerers'? A: The book is available in hardcover binding, providing durability and a quality reading experience.
- Q: Is 'The Tinkerers' suitable for all ages? A: 'The Tinkerers' is suitable for a wide range of ages, particularly those interested in history, innovation, and the spirit of DIY culture.
- Q: What is the condition of the book being sold? A: The book is brand new, ensuring that readers receive a pristine copy.
- Q: Does 'The Tinkerers' include illustrations or images? A: The book primarily focuses on text and narratives; it does not emphasize illustrations or images.
- Q: Can 'The Tinkerers' be used as a reference for innovation projects? A: 'The Tinkerers' can serve as a source of inspiration and insight for innovation projects, showcasing various approaches and historical contexts of tinkering.