Eureka!

Have you ever thought about all the inventions you use in just one day?  It's hard to imagine a world without clocks, refrigerators, TVs, seat belts, computers, and so on.  But it all had to be invented by someone.  Have you ever wondered who that someone was?  Bring these books home if you're curious to know who invented what and how it impacted everyday life:

• The Evolution of Useful Things by Henry Petroski
• Really Useful: The Origins of Everyday Things by Joel Levy
• 1,001 Inventions That Changed the World edited by Jack Challoner
• House of Invention : The Secret Life of Everyday Products by David Lindsay
• Big Ideas : 100 Modern Inventions that Have Transformed Our World by Alex Hutchinson
• The Spirit of Invention: The Story of the Thinkers, Creators, and Dreamers Who Formed Our Nation by Julie M. Fenster
• They All Laughed: From Light Bulbs to Lasers, The Fascinating Stories Behind the Great Inventions that Have Changed Our Lives by Ira Flatow

If you've ever looked at an invention and thought "Why didn't I think of that?" or "I could do better!", these resources may get your mind in gear to create the next great item:

• Inventing for Dummies by Pamela Riddle Bird
• Great Idea! Now What? by Howard Bronson with Peter Lange
• The Independent Inventor's Handbook by Louis J. Foreman and Jill Gilbert Welytok
• From Patent to Profit: Secrets and Strategies for the Successful Inventor by Bob DeMatteis
• The Million-Dollar Idea in Everyone : Easy New Ways to Make Money from Your Interests, Insights, and Inventions by Mike Collins

Once you've come up with your new invention, you'll want to register it and protect it.  These books can help you begin that process:

• Patent Law in a Nutshell by Martin Adelman
• Nolo's Patents for Beginners by David Pressman
• Patent, Copyright, and Trademark by Richard Stim
• Patent Searching Made Easy: How to Do Patent Searches on the Internet and in the Library by David Hitchcock

So what are you waiting for?  Grab some books and get started!