Order The Black Book

The ultimate guide to alternative inventions
Order The Black Book

Order The Black Book

The ultimate guide to alternative inventions

What were history's most daring inventions that never caught on? Place your order today and be the first to discover its secrets

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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”

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.

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Parallel 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

120 Number of inventions with detailed descriptions, reasons for their lack of popularity, and possibilities for re-inventing them with modern technologies.
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100+ Hand-drawn illustrations capturing the essence of each invention, from the intricate lines to the subtle pops of color.
20 Chapters exploring various themes of historical and futuristic inventions.
150 gsm High-quality, thick paper for durability and a premium feel.
1.9 kg Total weight of the book , providinga substantial and satisfying heft..
5 Years of meticulous research and collaboration with experts in the field.
1 Best-selling, Pulitzer-finalist author , Professor Noah Charney, bringing depth and narrative to the book.
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Aviation

Imagine a world governed by the same laws of physics, yet brimming with entirely different inventions that have captured the public imagination.

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*Testimotionals*

Hidden brilliance. This book offers a captivating glimpse into the world of forgotten inventions.

Vivian Harper

I found the stories of innovations really intriguing; it’s amazing to see what could have been..

Jasper Wells

Fascinatingly brief. A succinct dive into the archives of forgotten technology.

Naomi Fletcher

This book offers a compelling look at inventions that never took off — definitely an eye-opener!.

Dominic Hughes

Discovering the untold stories. This book is a treasure trove of forgotten innovations.

Lydia Martinez

A window into alternate histories. This book offers a unique perspective on what could have been.

Ethan Cross

Brief but eye-opening. The book offers a concise yet intriguing exploration of inventions that almost made a difference.

Marissa Cole

Forgotten marvels rediscovered. This book captures the essence of innovation lost to time.

Oliver Bennett

A journey through the forgotten corners of innovation.

Isabel Turner

An intriguing collection of overlooked brilliance.

Jonathan Harris

Home

How would our homes look if different inventors had made history?

home

And other brilliant ideas

Steam-powered jetpack

Steam-powered jetpack

Just imagine how our commute would change!

Monowheel

Monowheel

How about a world where instead of bicycles, we have the king of momentum?!

Pneumotube

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

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

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

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

Steam-powered jetpack

Just imagine how our commute would change!

Monowheel

Monowheel

How about a world where instead of bicycles, we have the king of momentum?!

Pneumotube

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

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

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

Pykrete

First, it's an aircraft carrier made of ice and sawdust. Second, it was to patrol the Atlantic and hunt German submarines.

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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.

illustrations

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.

Administrative group

Victoria Reshetnikova Project Manager

Editors and Copywriters

Vadim Kulikov Technical editor

Illustrators

Lev Kaplan Main Illustrator 
Yaroslava Bogorodskaya  Illustrator
Sergey Vorobyev Illustrator