With a Little Luck: Surprising Stories of Amazing Discoveries - Hardcover

Fradin, Dennis Brindell

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0525471960 ISBN 13: 9780525471967

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile, 2006

Synopsis

Luck + genius = serendipity. From Isaac Newton’s sudden grasp of gravity to Alexander Fleming’s chance development of penicillin, from fossils to the Dead Sea Scrolls, rubber balls to nuclear fission, history is brimming with stories of fantastic lucky breaks.Though genius and hard work play an important part, the luck of many scientists, explorers, and inventors has led to breakthroughs that revolutionized our world.

In lively and accessible prose, award-winning author Dennis Fradin reveals the thrilling stories behind 11 monumental discoveries, as well as the tragedies and triumphs of the fascinating men and women behind these advances. Illustrated with historical photos and engravings.

About this title

About the Author:

Dennis Fradin is the author of many award-winning nonfiction books for young readers. He lives with his wife, Judith, in Illinois.

From Booklist:

*Starred Review* Gr. 6-9. When Newton saw that apple fall, he was ready to make his monumental discovery. Yes, luck and accident played a role, but so did his focus on details. The same is true of the 11 thrilling breakthroughs described this collective biography. Each inventor-discoverer is concentrating on a problem when the unexpected leads to revelation: Alexander Fleming understood the importance of what happened after mold that grew in his messy lab landed on a dish of bacteria. The daily detail is almost as exciting as the sudden breakthrough. Whether Fradin is writing about the discovery of penicillin, Neptune, pulsars, or the Dead Sea Scrolls, he smoothly combines personal stories (including some about young people) with fascinating science, technology, and history. His style is open and chatty, and the book design is very attractive: thick paper, spacious type, occasional quotes in the margin, and black-and-white photos and prints. Some of the bibliographic notes for the biographies mention Fradin's contact with contemporary inventors. Caught by the thrilling science and the personal adventure, many readers will go on to find out more. Hazel Rochman
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About this edition

• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0525471960
• ISBN 13: 9780525471967
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 144
• Illustrator: Fradin Dennis Brindell