To celebrate Canada's 150th birthday, Governor General David Johnston
and Tom Jenkins have crafted a richly illustrated volume of brilliant
Canadian innovations whose widespread adoption has made the world a
better place. From Bovril to BlackBerrys, lightbulbs to liquid helium,
peanut butter to Pablum, this is a surprising and incredibly varied
collection to make Canadians proud, and to our unique entrepreneurial
spirit.
Successful innovation is always inspired by at least one of three forces
-- insight, necessity, and simple luck. Ingenious moves through
history to explore what circumstances, incidents, coincidences, and
collaborations motivated each great Canadian idea, and what twist of
fate then brought that idea into public acceptance. Above all, the book
explores what goes on in the mind of an innovator, and maps the
incredible spectrum of personalities that have struggled to improve the
lot of their neighbours, their fellow citizens, and their species.
From the marvels of aboriginal invention such as the canoe, snowshoe,
igloo, dogsled, lifejacket, and bunk bed to the latest pioneering
advances in medicine, education, philanthropy, science, engineering,
community development, business, the arts, and the media, Canadians have
improvised and collaborated their way to international admiration.
Ingenious tells you why they did it and how they made the world a
better place.
