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

by Ethlie Ann Vare (Author), Greg Ptacek (Author)

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

Front Jacket

It should come as no surprise that a woman invented the disposable diaper, the drip coffeemaker, or even the automatic dishwasher. But did you know that the first computer language, the first effective treatment for smallpox, and the first electric motor were conceived of and developed by women? In virtually every field of human endeavor, female inventors have made significant, sometimes revolutionary, contributions-from Liquid Paper to Scotchgard(TM), from the cotton gin to chemotherapy. Patently Female salutes the ingenuity and imagination, resourcefulness and tenacity, of these women, hundreds of them, who have been too long unsung and too frequently unrewarded.

You'll be fascinated by the laundress who solved a problem that baffled engineers; the twelve-year-old girl who redesigned her radio's tuner-then went on to invent the cordless phone; and the woman who became America's first black millionaire by mixing up hair conditioner in her laundry tub.

You'll be inspired by the housewife who invented the frozen pizza and became the first female vice president of a multinational corporation, the hardworking widow who spent ten years perfecting the marine signal flare, and the real estate developer who created the world's first tract housing.

Patently Female also visits the cutting edge of modern technology and science, introducing you to the women who are developing the virtual film set; the flying car; the cure for all autoimmune diseases; and many other wonders to come.

Whether you're a science and technology buff, a passionate follower of women's achievements, or a budding inventor looking for inspiration, make a great discovery of your own-open Patently Female and meet the true mothers of invention.

Back Jacket

Discover the trials & triumphs of great female inventors

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

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

Author Biography

ETHLIE ANN VARE is a journalist and screenwriter who lectures frequently at colleges and universities around the United States.

GREG PTACEK is a writer, marketing consultant, and independent producer based in Los Angeles.
They received the American Library Association Award for their previous book about women inventors, Mothers of Invention: From the Bra to the Bomb, Forgotten Women and Their Unforgettable Ideas.