Invention in America

the long version

American inventors produced a stream of inventions between 1790 and 1920 that forever transformed an agrarian culture into today's industrialized society. With seldom-seen images from The Library of Congress, Invention in America tells the fascinating story of the men and machines responsible for the transformation known as the Industrial Revolution. Delving into the vast collections of The Library of Congress, Bourne reappraises the delicate balance between the amazing leaps forward we have been able to take as a result of our technological creativity, and the gradual realization that we must make wiser choices in harnessing those creative energies. An insightful look at how invention has shaped our culture, Invention in America will cause readers to consider both the benefits and the harm resulting from inventiveness and technological progress. The Library of Congress endeavors to gather a record of human knowledge and to provide the broadest possible access to that information. Founded in 1800 for the use of members of the United States Congress, it has been open to the public since the 1870s. Today it is the world's largest library, comprising over 20 million books in 470 languages and over 107 million items from manuscripts to music scores, maps, photographs and films. Invention in America, produced in cooperation with The Library's Publishing Office, is the seventh in The Library of Congress Classics Series, which explores American and world culture and history through The Library's magnificent collections.