Patently female: from AZT to TV dinners : stories of women inventors and their breakthrough ideas

Ethlie Ann Vare, Greg Ptacek

Wiley, 2002 - Biography & Autobiography - 220 pages

Discover the trials & triumphs of great female inventors

Astrolabe
Automatic Dishwasher
Barbie Doll
Buffered Aspirin
COBOL
Cotton Gin
Disposable Phone
Drip Coffeemaker
Fabric Softener Sheets
Hang Glider
IV Fluids
Jell-O
Kevlar
Mars Rover
Nystatin
PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)
Protease Inhibitors
Rolfing
Smallpox Variolation
Space Suit
Spic & Span
Tract Housing
Vacuum Canning
Windshield Wipers
Zig-Zag Sewing Machine
Zovirax

and many, many more!

Reviews for Mothers of Invention by Ethlie Ann Vare and Greg Ptacek

"It's a fascinating and gratifying book..It gives us a positive view of women's inventiveness, from the frivolous to the noble."
-The New York Times Book Review

"It is the wide spectrum of female humanity and ability in this book that makes it an especially valuable addition to the growing popular library on the accomplishments and work lives of women."
-Los Angeles Times

"An informative collection of talent, trivia, and history, Mothers of Invention will interest most anyone. More importantly, though, it will serve to inspire girls and women of all ages. For that reason, it belongs on the shelves of schools and public libraries everywhere."
-Tampa Tribune

"Wonderful..A book to be dipped into and sampled at one's leisure."
-The Chicago Biweekly

"This fascinating volume will find a place in the browsing sections of both adult and YA collections.recommended."
-Library Journal

One of the "Best Books for Young Adults,"
American Library Association, 1988

What people are saying

User Review -

The author encourages not only women of all ages but also young children to be inventors. Additionally she mentions the imagination, invention, creation, discovery and development of several products by women, who came up with their bright ideas and experimental solutions which eventually became products that are still in use today. In the beginning, their works focused on agricultural products such as the cotton gin and the grain harvester. The second example includes women’s products like bras, the space suit and the ingredients of a cereal starch which combined knowledge of biochemistry and microbiology. Another example is the cure for many diseases such as childhood Leukemia, treatments for gout and herpes and the first drug for AIDs.I definitely recommend all women and young children read this book.  

Review: Patently Female: From AZT to TV Dinners, Stories of Women Inventors and Their Breakthrough Ideas

User Review  - Casey - Goodreads

Interesting read about inventions created or thought of by women. Like kevlar, navy signal flares, dishwashers, etc. Sad to read about those (in the past) who didn't get credit or compensation simply ...

Contents

• Practicalities: 5
• Womans Work: 37
• Computer Liberation: 59

Bibliographic information

• Title: Patently female: from AZT to TV dinners : stories of women inventors and their breakthrough ideas
• Authors: Ethlie Ann Vare, Greg Ptacek
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Wiley, 2002
• Original from: the University of Michigan
• Digitized: Aug 5, 2009
• ISBN: 0471023345, 9780471023340
• Length: 220 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / General; Biography & Autobiography / Science & Technology; Biography & Autobiography / Women; Fiction / General; History / General; Law / Intellectual Property / Patent; Science / History