Author(s): John Farndon

SCIENCE & NATURE

What do you think is the greatest idea ever? Where would humanity be now without fire, poetry, music, rationalism, God...or scaffolding? Weaving has provided us historical tapestries and clothes; electric light enables us to illuminate our cities, but then sewers allowed those cities to grow...Justice, Writing, The Internet, Property, Banking, Romance - which is best? John Farndon, author of the bestselling Do You Think You're Clever?, presents a unique perspective on human history. In consultation with a distinguished panel of experts, he has drawn up a list of 50 great ideas and inventions. In the book he then takes on the delightfully impossible task of exploring and ranking them, arguing the fascinating case for each idea. Both an eye-opening journey for the mind and a primer for the armchair intellectual, The World's Greatest Idea distils humankind's most powerful intellectual, social, scientific and creative brainwaves. But will you agree?