Invention and innovation A brief history of hype and failure

The prolific Smil (emer., Univ. of Manitoba), whose 40 published titles include Energy and Civilization (CH, Nov'17, 55-1057) and Global Catastrophes and Trends (CH, Dec'08, 46-2039), examines the history of innovation failure since the 1860s. Briefly distinguishing between invention and innovation (an outcome), he sorts the latter into three categories: those that failed to dominate, those that were disastrous, and those still promised but yet to appear. Topical examples include fuel additives, nuclear energy, supersonic flight, hyperloop (vacuum tube) transport, and nitrogen-fixing cereals. One main contention is that corporate executives and influencers should turn down the hyperbole surrounding innovation, which Smil claims creates unrealistic expectations. A recurring theme is the unsupportable tendency to judge the success of innovations based on "Moore's law" (annual doubling of capacity). Smil also advises circumspection regarding online claims about new inventions, cautioning readers to beware of "sci-fi type wishes" and "pathetic click-bait" (p. 171). Smil's critique of innovation is mostly balanced, but readers may question his casting doubt on online medical records without also acknowledging the advantage of real-time updates and ease of access for patients. Smil deftly supports his arguments with rich details and sobering statistics, calling for the need to improve the life of the world's population while avoiding impacts to the biosphere. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --Kyle D. Winward, Central College

Smil (How the World Really Works), a professor emeritus at the University of Manitoba, takes a thought-provoking look at what "the long trajectory of inventions" suggests about what to expect in the future. To offer "a modest reminder of the world as it is, not the world of exaggerated claims or, even worse, the imaginary world of indefensible fantasies," Smil considers three types of "failed inventions." There are "unfulfilled promises," which arrived with great expectations, but ended up being so harmful they were banned (DDT and chlorofluorocarbons among them); "disappointments," which initially seemed poised to dominate their markets, only to disappear (supersonic aircraft, for example); and "eventual rejections," or inventions that would be game-changers, but won't arrive any time soon, such as high-speed travel in a vacuum and generating electricity through nuclear fusion. His survey leads him to a list of the inventions "we need most" (specifically in the fields of water treatment, agriculture, and electricity distribution) and to the sobering conclusion that the future will likely look like the past: full of failures. This is a solid corrective to the notion that human inventiveness can tackle any challenge. (Feb.)

A highly respected scientist takes a close, cleareyed look at the processes of invention. Smil, the author of more than 40 books on scientific subjects and global matters, is always worth reading. In his latest, the author investigates some technologies that have not lived up to their promise despite huge investments of effort and capital. In the first section, he explores three inventions--leaded gasoline, DDT insecticide, and chlorofluorocarbons--that were initially welcomed but later shunned as environmentally hazardous. This was mainly due to the long-term consequences not being fully understood or the balance of benefits and disadvantages not being properly measured. Basically, they seemed like good ideas at the time. The second category deals with inventions that were supposed to be world changing but never quite got out of a niche--e.g., airships, nuclear fission, and supersonic travel. In these cases, the inventions were overtaken by alternatives that were cheaper and less dangerous. Then there are ideas that failed to mature into useful technology, like nuclear fusion, high-speed travel in vacuum tubes (hyperloop), and nitrogen-fixing cereal crops. These are all intriguing concepts, but there have always been problems that stubbornly resist solutions, and 90% of a breakthrough does not count for much. Smil clearly understands the technical issues involved, but he avoids jargon, and he has a cheeky sense of humor. He wonders why technologies that are proven failures receive regular bursts of enthusiasm, and he points to the media as a primary culprit. A novel, earth-shaking invention is an easy headline even if the fine print shows that real-world application is decades away. In fact, the author shows how new-generation supersonic travel would not markedly improve our lives. Today, the most crucial technologies involve better water treatment methods and improved agricultural yields. It may be unglamorous work, but advancements in both would make a critical difference. An informative, entertaining package from a gifted, original thinker. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.