John Lienhard’s The Engines of Our Ingenuity is a stunning book,
endlessly insightful, deeply interesting and easy to read. It is crammed with
anecdote and amusement. You hardly realise that what you are enjoying is really
a survey of technology and culture and how they have influenced each other
through the ages. If you lend it, you’ll never get it back. Published by Oxford,
£17.95,$25, ISBN 0195135830.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
A type of fibre that stimulates GLP-1 release approved for use in food
2
The world's fastest spider tops 3.5 metres per second
3
The weirdness of neutrinos could completely rewrite particle physics
4
Where, when and how to watch the 2026 solar eclipse
5
What is 'SpudCell'? Arguably the greatest bioengineering feat yet
6
Babies are born with the neural foundations for maths
7
The best new science-fiction novels published in July 2026
8
The 4 must-watch science-fiction films of the year so far
9
This physicist is hunting for the biggest black hole in the universe
10
Remote-controlled cockroach swarm can now breathe underwater
