That Was Genius: Lost Knowledge and Incredible Inventions from History - Hardcover

by Emily Dodd (Author), Christian Gralingen (Illustrator)

Discover the unbelievable inventions and innovations of ancient people from across the world.

This technological treasury of hidden histories uncovers gadgets and gizmos from the ancient and recent past to change the way you think about history and science.

See inside steam-powered robots from ancient Greece, learn the secrets of medieval alchemy, and marvel at an earthquake detector from ancient China. Forget your dusty history books--this is a book of marvels that are stranger than fiction!

Spanning five continents and thousands of years, That Was Genius includes:

• Incredible innovations from the ancient world, including razor-sharp obsidian tools, a mystical Viking compass, and Aboriginal Australian songlines.
• Enormous libraries that once housed knowledge now lost to time, such as those of Alexandria and Baghdad.
• Spotlight inventors whose wildest dreams went unrealised--ranging from the original Renaissance Man, Leonardo da Vinci, to computing pioneer Ada Lovelace.

Each spread is packed with fascinating details on the science behind each invention, as well as puzzlebox illustrations which invite you to solve the mysteries of the distant past yourself...

Perfect for curious minds and budding inventors, That Was Genius invites you to rethink what ancient people knew, built, and imagined--and to see the modern world with fresh eyes.

Author Biography

Emily Dodd loves science and wildlife. She is the author of picture books and non-fiction science books, a screenwriter for CBeebies, a singer-songwriter, and a BBC radio playwright. Emily travels widely, taking her interactive science events to schools, libraries, and festivals. Her books for children include DKFindOut! Energy (DK, 2018), the Tell Me About series (Templar) and That Was Genius (Wide Eyed Editions, 2026).

Christian Gralingen was born in Essen, Germany and now lives and works as an Art Director and Illustrator, as well as teaching Illustration and Communication Design, in Berlin. His client list includes design agencies, publishing houses, magazines, academic institutions, and foundations. His aesthetics have many influences but are particularly inspired by the imagery of scientific publications, construction plans, and technical drawings.