The Most Powerful Idea in the World by William Rosen

The Most Powerful Idea in the World by William Rosen

Hardly a week passes without some high-profile court case that features intellectual property at its center. But how did the belief that one could own an idea come about? And how did that belief change the way humankind lives and works?

William Rosen, author of Justinian's Flea, seeks to answer these questions and more with The Most Powerful Idea in the World. A lively and passionate study of the engineering and scientific breakthroughs that led to the steam engine, this book argues that the very notion of intellectual property drove not only the invention of the steam engine but also the entire Industrial Revolution: history's first sustained era of economic improvement. To do so, Rosen conjures up an eccentric cast of characters, including the legal philosophers who enabled most the inventive society in millennia, and the scientists and inventors-Thomas Newcomen, Robert Boyle, and James Watt-who helped to create and perfect the steam engine over the centuries. With wit and wide-ranging curiosity, Rosen explores the power of creativity, capital, and collaboration in the brilliant engineering of the steam engine and how this power source, which fueled factories, ships, and railroads, changed human history.

Deeply informative and never dull, Rosen's account of one of the most important inventions made by humans is a rollicking ride through history, with careful scholarship and fast-paced prose in equal measure.

WILLIAM ROSEN is chief executive officer of VSA Partners, one of the world's preeminent branding and marketing firms, and former president and chief creative officer of North America at Arc Worldwide, the global marketing company of Leo Burnett Worldwide. Widely recognized as a leader in cross-channel marketing and branding, he has been honored with hundreds of awards around the world and served as president of the jury at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. LAURENCE MINSKY is associate professor of advertising, Columbia College Chicago, and author or coauthor of numerous books, including Audio Branding: Using Sounds to Build Your Brand and How to Succeed in Advertising When All You Have Is Talent. He is also an award-winning creative director, copywriter, marketing strategist, and consultant focused on creating innovative and effective cross-discipline marketing solutions for such client as Amazon, United Airlines, AARP, and others.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781400067053
ISBN 10	1400067057
Title	The Most Powerful Idea in the World
Author	William Rosen
Condition	Unavailable
Publisher	Random House USA Inc
Year published	2010-06-01
Number of pages	400
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.