10 Books About Inventors to Spark Your Next Big Idea

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Tinkerers. Innovators. Mavericks. What turns someone from a run-of-the-mill genius into a world-changing inventor? It’s the willingness to take problem-solving skills and creativity and use them not to play it safe but to risk everything on a dream.

The subjects of these 10 books about inventors came from all sorts of different backgrounds, and they made their mark on the world in wildly different times, places, and ways. What do famous inventors like Alexander Graham Bell, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Edison all have in common? Their willingness to buck the status quo in the name of innovation. Inspired by gaps in scientific knowledge that begged to be filled, underserved populations just waiting for products designed for them, and at times nothing more than pure curiosity, these inventors dreamed up and built objects that changed the world forever.

Check out the 10 best books about inventors the next time you’re looking for inspiration for your next creative project or entrepreneurial endeavor. You’ll come away with a newfound appreciation for the unique minds and bold spirits behind some of your favorite devices.

'Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker' by A'Lelia Bundles

Sarah Breedlove never had anything handed to her. Born to parents who had formerly been enslaved, orphaned at just seven years old, and widowed by 20, she spent her early adulthood working as a washerwoman. But her innovation in Black hair care products — and her sharp business acumen — led to a meteoric rise. Self Made follows Breedlove’s journey to becoming Madam C.J. Walker, who holds the Guinness World Record for being America’s first self-made female millionaire.

'Alexander Graham Bell: The Reluctant Genius and His Passion for Invention' by Charlotte Gray

Most know Alexander Graham Bell for a single, albeit impactful, invention: the telephone. But the inventor also worked on early iterations of everything from compost toilets to metal detectors. In addition to surfacing some of Bell’s less commercially successful passion projects, this biography delves into his lifelong fascination with human hearing — largely fueled by his own mother’s severe hearing impairment.

'The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World' by Randall Stross

Thomas Edison was almost certainly a technical genius. But how did he become synonymous with the idea of American innovation? Like so many technologists that would follow him, Edison built his brand as a master inventor and innovator on the backs of countless unsung assistants — and occasionally by stealing credit from his rivals.

'Hedy Lamarr's Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor' by Laurie Wallmark

This critically-acclaimed picture book introduces kids to Hedy Lamarr, a glamorous Hollywood film star and brilliant inventor. During World War II, Lamarr worked with composer George Antheil to design a secure torpedo guidance system using a trick called frequency-hopping. Ignored by the military and hidden as a classified document, their patent would later be used to fuel the 20th-century boom in wireless communication technology—without Lamarr or Antheil getting any credit.

'Alan Turing: The Enigma' by Andrew Hodges

It was only decades after Alan Turing’s tragic death that the public became aware of the extent of his contributions to modern computer science — and the code-breaking work he did to save countless lives during World War II. In life, Turing was legally prosecuted for his homosexuality. His fascinating and heartbreaking legacy is now the subject of a critically-acclaimed film starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

'Thunderstruck' by Erik Larson

Bestselling author Erik Larson is known for his uncanny ability to spin thrilling narratives out of historical fact. This “ripping yarn of murder and invention” weaves true crime into the saga of Guglielmo Marconi’s groundbreaking creation of the first effective radio communication system. Marconi’s wireless telegraph would eventually help save survivors of the Titanic and serve as a crucial step in the development of all radio technology.

'Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions' by Chris Barton

Most Americans have spent at least a few summer days playing with some version of the Super Soaker water gun, but few know the story of its inventor. Lonnie Johnson, who grew up in Alabama during the days of legal segregation, dreamed up the bestselling device when he wasn’t busy working as a NASA engineer. This delightful picture book shows kids that you never know where your curiosity will take you.

'Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love' by Dava Sobel

While Galileo did not technically invent the first telescope, his redesign of the new magnifying device greatly improved its capabilities. The astronomical discoveries that followed famously put him at odds with the Catholic church. That makes this unique memoir — which pulls from Galileo’s correspondence with his daughter Suor Maria Celeste, a cloistered nun — all the more fascinating.

'The Wright Brothers' by David McCullough

In 1903, two bicycle mechanics from Ohio risked their lives and changed the world with the first successful powered airplane flight. This #1 New York Times bestseller from two-time Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough explores how Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright became the fathers of aviation without a single college degree between them.

'Benjamin Franklin: An American Life' by Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson is known for bringing historical figures to life in his deeply-researched, award-winning slate of biographies. He brings his usual authority to the story of founding father, diplomat, writer, publisher, scientist, and inventor Benjamin Franklin. From the practical (bifocal lenses) to the whimsical (an eerie and surprisingly controversial instrument called the armonica), Franklin’s inventions color his legacy as an early American genius.

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