Who Built That audiobook cover - Awe-Inspiring Stories of American Tinkerpreneurs

Who Built That

Awe-Inspiring Stories of American Tinkerpreneurs

Michelle Malkin

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HistoryEntrepreneurship

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Key Takeaways from Who Built That

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Who Built That
The Tinkerpreneur Spirit+
Commercial Opportunism+
Overcoming Naysayers+
Power of Simple Ideas+
Vital Collaboration+
Threats to Innovation+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 6
According to the book, what is the primary disagreement between the author and President Obama regarding inventors?
  • A. Obama believes inventors require heavy government regulation, while the author believes they need absolute freedom.
  • B. Obama argues that public infrastructure is the true foundation of an inventor's success, while the author argues that inventors' unique drive and cleverness create progress.
  • C. Obama thinks inventors should focus on social progress, while the author believes they should focus solely on financial profit.
  • D. Obama states that inventors are the top one percent of society, while the author claims they are just ordinary workers.
Question 2 of 6
What key lesson does the story of Willis Carrier and Irvine Lyle demonstrate about innovation?
  • A. Government subsidies are often required to bring a complex invention to the commercial market.
  • B. An invention often requires a creative salesperson to envision its commercial applications and achieve widespread impact.
  • C. The best inventions are created by immigrants who work harder than domestic laborers.
  • D. Innovation usually succeeds best when the inventor keeps their methods completely secret from competitors.
Question 3 of 6
Why did John Roebling, inventor of the revolutionary wire rope, leave Prussia for the United States?
  • A. He was fleeing religious persecution and sought the freedom of the American frontier.
  • B. He wanted to escape the powerful hemp rope industry that threatened his life in Europe.
  • C. He was recruited by the American government to help build the Brooklyn Bridge.
  • D. He found that the Prussian government favored conformity and required bureaucratic approval for any procedural improvements.
Question 4 of 6
How did William Painter’s invention of the crown cap directly influence King Gillette?
  • A. It inspired Gillette to create another radically simple, disposable invention: the steel razor.
  • B. It provided the financial capital Gillette needed to start his own beverage company.
  • C. It taught Gillette how to effectively market household products to women.
  • D. It showed Gillette the importance of securing a patent before manufacturing a product.
Question 5 of 6
In the stories of Libbey & Owens and Tesla & Westinghouse, what shared theme emerges about the innovation process?
  • A. Both teams succeeded by avoiding patents and keeping their technological breakthroughs a strict secret.
  • B. Both teams relied on a combination of engineering genius and strong financial or promotional backing to overcome entrenched industry opposition.
  • C. Both teams eventually lost their commercial edge because they refused to adapt to modern manufacturing techniques.
  • D. Both teams were heavily subsidized by the US government to ensure their technologies became the national standard.
Question 6 of 6
According to the book, how has recent reform in the US patent system endangered innovation?
  • A. It reduced the time period a patent remains valid, making it harder for inventors to profit.
  • B. It required inventors to publicly disclose their secrets, which many small creators refuse to do.
  • C. It changed from a 'first to invent' to a 'first to sign' approach, giving well-funded large corporations a major advantage.
  • D. It transferred the power of patent approval from the free market to a slow, bureaucratic government agency.

Who Built That — Full Chapter Overview

Who Built That Summary & Overview

Who Built That (2015) tells the stories of America’s most fascinating inventors from the last 150 years. These blinks reveal how these tinkerpreneurs, against all the odds, achieved commercial success with their revolutionary inventions.

Who Should Listen to Who Built That?

  • Aspiring inventors interested in the history of innovation
  • People interested in the development and future of intellectual property rights
  • Businesses concerned about the current innovative capacities of the United States

About the Author: Michelle Malkin

Michelle Malkin is a columnist working for Fox News. She founded Hot Air and Twitchy.com. Who Built That is her fifth bestselling book.

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