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The Ultimate Guide To Alternative Inventions
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- Backers will get exclusive spreads that won’t be available to anyone else!
Our world without computers and plastic
Imagine a world governed by the same laws of physics as this one, yet filled with entirely different inventions. It’s a realm of enthusiastic inventors and dreamers who are driven by curiosity and the desire to make the world a better place, regardless of whether they make history or not. It’s a world of gears and levers, of wild inventions that run from the ingenious to the ridiculous. From travel to the home, from industry to entire countries and languages, from entertainment to buildings, monuments, art and beyond, we set ourselves the task of recreating such a world.
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From creators of “The book”
We are Hungry Minds, the passionate team behind The Book: The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization, the second best-selling book in Kickstarter’s history. As children, we were fascinated by how things worked. We've sought to capture that pioneering spirit in The Book.
Check “The Book” pageParallel Universes
This isn’t merely a catalog of inventions. It’s an entire alternate universe governed by different principles — a world of unconventional creations. Each invention chosen for this book serves as a portal into a realm where creativity knows no bounds and where the whims of human curiosity reign supreme. Delve into the minds of visionary inventors whose dreams were dashed by the harsh realities of market forces, societal norms, or sheer bad luck. This is a history of inventions that never were, which never found a foothold, even though some of them should have.
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Ideas unbound
It’s a lavishly hand-illustrated story of elegant and brilliant ideas that, for various reasons, never caught on. Some were quickly replaced by alternative technologies, others were simply too bizarre for this world. While they may not find a place in our modern homes or bustling city streets, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of human ingenuity. They tell the story of our laziness, our ambition, our penchant for convenience, our drive for progress, our need for speed, our sentimental attachment and our relentless quest to automate every facet of our lives. And while they are not in use today, many of them are the forefathers of today’s tools and machines, which could not have existed without these earlier versions paving the path.
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Black book blueprint
Aviation
Imagine a world governed by the same laws of physics, yet brimming with entirely different inventions that have captured the public imagination.
*Testimotionals*
Home
How would our homes look if different inventors had made history?
And other brilliant ideas
Steam-powered jetpack
Just imagine how our commute would change!
Monowheel
How about a world where instead of bicycles, we have the king of momentum?!
Pneumotube
Because air is faster than a postman! And it can move a lot of wonderful things: goods, money, correspondence, food… even cats!
Dymaxion House
How do you like a round metal house that is easy to assemble, transportable, and looks like your favorite treehouse or a yurt?
Aerotrain
This experimental train floated a few centimeters above the ground on a hovercraft, combining the comfort of a land train with the speed of a small aircraft. Woosh!
Pykrete
First, it's an aircraft carrier made of ice and sawdust. Second, it was to patrol the Atlantic and hunt German submarines.
Steam-powered jetpack
Just imagine how our commute would change!
Monowheel
How about a world where instead of bicycles, we have the king of momentum?!
Pneumotube
Because air is faster than a postman! And it can move a lot of wonderful things: goods, money, correspondence, food… even cats!
Dymaxion House
How do you like a round metal house that is easy to assemble, transportable, and looks like your favorite treehouse or a yurt?
Aerotrain
This experimental train floated a few centimeters above the ground on a hovercraft, combining the comfort of a land train with the speed of a small aircraft. Woosh!
Pykrete
First, it's an aircraft carrier made of ice and sawdust. Second, it was to patrol the Atlantic and hunt German submarines.
NO AI. ONLY HAND-CRAFTED ILLUSTRATIONS
Look, AI is cool and amazing, but you know what’s even cooler and more amazing? Actual talented, trained, masterful human artists. All the illustrations in this book (and there will be 100 captivating spreads) are hand-drawn by our artists, just as the blueprints of these inventions were once created. We've made every effort to capture and convey the essence of blueprints and preparatory sketches: the blue backing, the intricate lines, the subtle pops of color, and a hint of science fiction allure and a dash of steampunk. Through this book, we aim to honor the ingenuity and vision of the inventors and explorers who dared to push the boundaries of what's possible.
Team
We've enlisted the same Hungry Minds team that stands behind The Book: The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization — the second most popular book in Kickstarter history and the top book launched by a non-author with millions of copies sold. The original founders, research illustrators, and art director are back, and this time, we've also teamed up with best-selling, Pulitzer-finalist author of over 20 books, Professor Noah Charney.
Timur Kadyrov
Creator
Timur travels a lot around the world and has been to Burning Man many times, created art for the festival, and now actively participates in the development of the Burner community. He’s also a serial entrepreneur, and his projects are a way for him to interact with the world and with himself. He’s convinced that people can and should be able to make a living through self-expression, art and creation.
Vsevolod Batischev
Creator
Having a passion for clockwork mechanisms and kinetic toys, Vsevolod constructed escape rooms. In 2020, after losing his business during the pandemic, he remembered another childhood hobby: daydreaming about how he would rebuild civilization if the current one were to collapse. Frustrated by the fact that he would be rather useless compared with engineers, scientists and builders, he came up with the idea of writing a book on how to revive civilization.
Noah Charney
Author
Dr Noah Charney is the internationally best-selling author of more than 20 books, translated into fourteen languages, including a Pulitzer finalist. He is a professor of art history and teaches online for Yale, the National Gallery, the Smithsonian and other leading institutions. He writes often for major publications, including The Guardian, and is a television and radio presenter, including for the BBC.
Artur Stelmakh
Managing Partner
Our managing partner and marketing expert, Artur, is always focused on timeless brand development through exceptional design that speaks for the brand. Artur has contributed to the growth of hundreds of E-commerce projects. His expertise was pivotal in securing success in pre-orders for our flagship product, The Book.