Overview
Ben & Jerry originally wanted to start a bagel business, butthey couldn't afford the bagel-making machine?
* The Slinky(r) toy was born aboard a World War IIbattleship?
* Band-Aids(r) were invented by a husband to help hisaccident-prone wife dress her own cuts and bruises at home?
* The idea for Velcro(r) came from cockleburs that got stuck on anengineer's wool trousers and in his dog's fur?
Ever wonder how anyone came up with the idea for a product youcouldn't imagine living without? Familiar products like Velcro(r),disposable diapers, Post-It Notes(r) ,and coffee filters. Readthis book and you'll discover - once more - that truth is indeedoften stranger than fiction. You'll also see that coming up with amillion-dollar idea isn't as difficult as you think. Thiscollection of entrepreneurs ranges from housewives to PhDs.
Filled with wacky and fascinating facts, awe-inspiring successstatistics, and rags-to-riches stories, Why Didn't I Think of That?chronicles the odd origins behind 50 famous inventions and revealsthe business side of each product's actual production, marketing,and distribution. You'll discover how inventors from all walks oflife struck it rich with unlikely contraptions that range from thepractical (like Tampax(r) and Tupperware(r) ) to the curiouslyinane (like the Barbie(r) doll and Silly Putty(r) ).
Inspirational, detailed, and always quirky, this delightful bookcaptures all of the drama and colorful history of products likeHeinz(r) ketchup, The Club(r) , Jell-O(r) ,Hallmark(r) cards,Trojan(r) condoms, Vaseline(r) , Rollerblades(r) , Kitty Litter(r), the Swiss Army(r) Knife, Bic(r) pens, Dirt Devil(r) , Pampers(r), S.O.S(r) pads, and many more.
* The Slinky(r) toy was born aboard a World War IIbattleship?
* Band-Aids(r) were invented by a husband to help hisaccident-prone wife dress her own cuts and bruises at home?
* The idea for Velcro(r) came from cockleburs that got stuck on anengineer's wool trousers and in his dog's fur?
Ever wonder how anyone came up with the idea for a product youcouldn't imagine living without? Familiar products like Velcro(r),disposable diapers, Post-It Notes(r) ,and coffee filters. Readthis book and you'll discover - once more - that truth is indeedoften stranger than fiction. You'll also see that coming up with amillion-dollar idea isn't as difficult as you think. Thiscollection of entrepreneurs ranges from housewives to PhDs.
Filled with wacky and fascinating facts, awe-inspiring successstatistics, and rags-to-riches stories, Why Didn't I Think of That?chronicles the odd origins behind 50 famous inventions and revealsthe business side of each product's actual production, marketing,and distribution. You'll discover how inventors from all walks oflife struck it rich with unlikely contraptions that range from thepractical (like Tampax(r) and Tupperware(r) ) to the curiouslyinane (like the Barbie(r) doll and Silly Putty(r) ).
Inspirational, detailed, and always quirky, this delightful bookcaptures all of the drama and colorful history of products likeHeinz(r) ketchup, The Club(r) , Jell-O(r) ,Hallmark(r) cards,Trojan(r) condoms, Vaseline(r) , Rollerblades(r) , Kitty Litter(r), the Swiss Army(r) Knife, Bic(r) pens, Dirt Devil(r) , Pampers(r), S.O.S(r) pads, and many more.
While major retailers like Amazon may carry Why Didn't I Think of That? (Bizarre Origins of Ingenious Inventions We Couldn't Live Without), we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.
We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.
Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of Why Didn't I Think of That? (Bizarre Origins of Ingenious Inventions We Couldn't Live Without).