As the world eagerly looked forward to the dawn of a new millennium, the turning of the calendar also represented an opportunity to pause and reflect on the tremendous ingenuity and invention that marked the previous hundred years. Electricity, automobiles, telephones, radio, television, computersâ€¦ these are a just a few of the innovations the decades had introduced â€" all compliments of the worldâ€™s engineers. Celebrating a century of innovation, the National Academy of Engineering and a consortium of professional engineering societies present the most significant engineering triumphs of the era. While the achievements encompass many dramatic and highly visible engineering feats, from the first flight at Kitty Hawk to the birth of the Internet, the lineup is largely composed of more commonplace advances that had a truly profound and widespread effect on all of society. Indeed, most of the achievements profiled in this book are so much a part of our lives that we have come to take them for granted. But to learn the stories behind these great achievements is to behold and appreciate them anew. Topping the list is electrification. More than half of the â€œTop 20â€ would not have been possible without it. Abundant and available electric power helped spur Americaâ€™s economic development and distributed benefits widely, from cities to farms. This achievement clearly shines as an example of how engineering has changed the world. But often we take the likes of air conditioning and refrigeration for granted even though they have significantly improved our sense of comfort and contributed to our physical health, giving us the ability to transport and extend the shelf life of food. Radio and television are so much more than mere entertainment devices. Indeed, they have changed the way we view the world and our place in it. The telephone has made the whole planet a smaller but much more connected place for all of us. And underlying and enabling many of these technologies is the computer â€" from room-sized super computers to palm-sized devices. Each chapter tells the life story of a specific engineering achievement. Each chapter also features a personal reflection by a notable engineer involved with the achievement. Among them: Bill Gates, who brought the personal computer into our home; Charles Townes, inventor of the laser; Robert Kahn, one of the originators of the Internet; Bill Anders, the Apollo 8 astronaut who took the famous â€œEarthriseâ€ photograph while in lunar orbit; and Wilson Greatbatch, inventor of the pacemaker. The engineersâ€™ commentaries capture the excitement, imagination, vision, and tenacity that ultimately made each achievement a reality. Timelines trace the evolution of the achievements while dramatic illustrations depict how things actually work. Replete with photographs and drawings, the drama of invention and discovery is brought vividly to life. More than a simple tally of engineering achievements, A Century of Innovation is proof positive that the genius and the talent of the worldâ€™s engineers have truly transformed the way people live. Table of Contents

A Century of Innovation: Twenty Engineering Achievements that Transformed our Lives

Science & Math

Constable, George

Somerville, Bob

Technology

Joseph Henry Press

This inspiring new book gives readers an inside look at the dogs who are rescued and rehabilitated by Best Friends Animal Society at Dogtown, part of the largest no-kill animal haven in the United States. This sanctuary hosts hundreds of dogs from around the world (including 22 pit bulls who were rescued from their painful lives with Michael Vick), as well as cats, horses, guinea pigs, rabbits, goats, and various other animals - between 1,500-2,000 animals in all. Dogtown is the subject of a television series on the National Geographic Channel; new episodes will begin September 5, 2008. Like the TV show, Dogtown depicts the engrossing stories of the dogs that are rescued and rehabilitated at the facility by its top-notch staff of veterinarians and trainers. Readers will learn about the relationships that flourish between the dogs and the trainers, and see how happy endings are possible for these dogs.

Dogtown: A Sanctuary for Rescued Dogs

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Best Friends Animal Society

Pets & Animal Care

Sellers Pub Inc

Kittyville is the neighborhood at Best Friends Animal Society, the largest no-kill animal haven in the United States, that is solely dedicated to the cats who are rescued by Best Friends and their Rapid Response teams. The Cats of Kittyville reveals the inspiring story of how a devoted crew of vets, specialists, caregivers, and volunteers perform miracles every day, giving the abused and abandoned cats in their care a happy new life. A primary goal of Best Friends is to place all animals in loving homes. Illustrated with over 85 photos, this captivating book shows how and why new lives happen for these special cats.

The Cats of Kittyville: New Lives for Rescued Felines

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Books by Somerville, Bob