The Man Who Invented the Game of Basketball: The Genius of James Naismith (Genius Inventors and Their Great Ideas)

Dr. James Naismith was a Canadian-American sports coach and innovator. He invented the sport of basketball in 1891 and is often credited with introducing the first football helmet. He wrote the original basketball rulebook, founded the University of Kansas basketball program, and lived to see basketball adopted as an Olympic demonstration sport in 1904 and as an official event at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, as well as the birth of both the National Invitation Tournament (1938) and the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship (1939). Illus. with color and black-and-white photographs and illustrations The ten Americans profiled in this book may not be familiar to some people, but their inventions certainly are. Today, we take for granted devises such as televisions, microchips, laswers, and even the Super Soaker® water gun. Within the last one hundred years in the United States, creative individuals such as those introduced in this book have pushed technology beyond the dreams of just a few years ago. Each of these inventors began with an idea for improving some aspect of life. Through ingenuity, hard work, and talent, they made their ideas a reality. Includes profiles of William Lear, Philo Farnsworth, Beatrice Kenner, Gertrude Belle Elion, Gordon Gould, Charles Ginsburg, Robert Shurney, Jack Kilby, Stephanie Kwolek and Lonnie Johnson. "Learn about these amazing inventors of the 20th century: William Lear, Philo Farnsworth, Beatrice Kenner, Gertrude Belle Elion, Gordon Gould, Charles Ginsburg, Robert Shurney, Jack Kilby, Stephanie Kwolek and Lonnie Johnson"-- Provided by publisher "Read about James Naismith and how he invented the game of basketball"--Provided by publisher.