Mistakes That Worked: 40 Familiar Inventions & How They Came to Be


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(as of May 23, 2025 12:38:17 UTC – Details)


The greatest discoveries are made outside the classroom! Learn all about mistakes that changed the world with this collection of the strange stories behind everyday inventions! It’s no accident that you’ll love this book!
 
SANDWICHES came about when an English earl was too busy gambling to eat his meal and needed to keep one hand free. POTATO CHIPS were first cooked by a chef who was furious when a customer complained that his fried potatoes weren’t thin enough. Coca-Cola, Silly Putty, and X rays have fascinating stories behind them too! Their unusual tales, and many more, along with hilarious cartoons and weird, amazing facts, make up this fun-filled book about everyday items that had surprisingly haphazard beginnings.

And don’t miss Eat Your Words about the fascinating language of food! 

“A splendid book that is as informative as it is entertaining . . . a gem.” —Booklist, Starred Review

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0385320434
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Delacorte Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 1, 1994
Edition ‏ : ‎ Reissue
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780385320436
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385320436
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 – 11 years, from customers
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 0.26 x 8 inches
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 – 7
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1040L

Customers say

Customers find this book entertaining for both children and adults, with great illustrations and very short chapters that make it easy to memorize the stories. Moreover, they appreciate its educational value in encouraging creative thinking, and one customer notes it’s a useful resource for personal development challenges. However, the readability receives mixed feedback, with some finding it easy to understand while others say it’s not written in an exciting way for kids. Additionally, while the book covers important inventions, some customers point out that the stories are poorly researched.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews