Wheels, doorknobs, forks, and sewing needles are such everyday items that we rarely bother to wonder how they were invented. But where did the idea for the tea bag come from? Or the waterscrew, synthesizers, or genetic engineering? Drawing on hundreds of examples, this intriguing book sheds new light on human ingenuity from the Stone Age to the present day. Arguing that all inventions are the result of the same basic principles rather than random inspiration, cognitive psychologist Robert Weber reveals our mind's amazing capacity for problem-solving, and encourages us to take a fresh look at the world around us and tap into our own creativity.