How Long to Read Forks, Phonographs, and Hot Air Balloons

How Long Does it Take to Read Forks, Phonographs, and Hot Air Balloons?

It takes the average reader 5 hours and 3 minutes to read Forks, Phonographs, and Hot Air Balloons by Robert J. Weber

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

How do inventions take shape? How did the inventors of the sewing needle, the hammer, or the wheel find their ideas? Are these creations the result of random events, or are hidden principles at work? Using everyday objects most of us take for granted--from forks and Velcro to safety pins and doorknobs--noted cognitive psychologist Robert Weber takes a fascinating look at how our world of inventions came into being, and how the mind's problem-solving abilities gave them the forms they have. As an archaeologist studies shards of pottery for clues about an ancient culture, Weber examines the many forms of inventions, from stone knives to genetically engineered mice, and finds a rich record of the work of many minds over time--a record of human creativity and problem-solving handed down through the centuries. He offers various methods for analyzing what mental paths might have been taken by these inventive minds. In the test for design, for example, he ponders how an item would work if various components were shuffled or constructed differently, revealing how the optimal shape of the invention was discovered. He challenges the reader to engage in thought experiments to explore how the horse-drawn cart, the waterscrew, or the fork might have taken shape over many years, through the efforts of successive inventors and adapters. In stripping these simple artifacts to the bone, Weber finds a hidden intelligence at work in everyday objects as well as recurrent heuristics (basic principles or rules of thumb) that are common among many of our most successful inventions--heuristics powerful enough to generate endless new ideas. Weber ranges across the work of Archimedes, Leonardo da Vinci, the Wright brothers, as well as grade-school children who have won national awards for their inventions, revealing that the same principles are at work in the discoveries of all of them. Basic principles of invention, he writes, govern how we think, solve, and manipulate ideas, whether mechanical or mental, real or mythological. Weber's playful, original, and insightful look at the inventions around us reveals a hidden intelligence in everything from screws to tea bags to synthesizers--an intelligence based on principles of creativity and problem-solving. His fascinating account sheds light on how the mind hones its most original thoughts and products, and provides a field guide for how we can tap into our own creativity.

How long is Forks, Phonographs, and Hot Air Balloons?

Forks, Phonographs, and Hot Air Balloons by Robert J. Weber is 296 pages long, and a total of 75,776 words.

This makes it 100% the length of the average book. It also has 93% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read Forks, Phonographs, and Hot Air Balloons Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 6 hours and 54 minutes to read Forks, Phonographs, and Hot Air Balloons aloud.

What Reading Level is Forks, Phonographs, and Hot Air Balloons?

Forks, Phonographs, and Hot Air Balloons is suitable for students ages 12 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy Forks, Phonographs, and Hot Air Balloons?

Forks, Phonographs, and Hot Air Balloons by Robert J. Weber is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.

To buy Forks, Phonographs, and Hot Air Balloons by Robert J. Weber on Amazon click the button below.