To know what happens in and out of the black box is to know what is the thecnological change not only like a cuantitative or monetarian problem but like a problem in relation with the natural resources and the environmental problems. The Rosenberg's concept have had a great acceptacion all over the historical and economical research -by Deborah Fitgerald, on the study of the relationship betwen science and agriculture (the animals are more thecnoeconomics than real animals), or by Naredo, on the study of the relationship between fertilitzers, food and consumers. The book also is in the line of Kranzberg's laws, and the reflexions of the environmental history (LAtour, Merchant, Haraway, Keller, etc.) -the thecnology travel by packages, it depends of the political and institutional factors and his failure or acceptation depens on the reception context -investigation and difusion.

As a patent attorney in the chemical arts, I was fascinated by a study of the historical development of the chemical industry. The book allowed me to understand the strengths and weaknesses of European,US and Japanese educational system, financial system and natural resources and the impact these characteristics had on the development of chemical companies within each region. Today's major companies' cultures, organizations and technology development programs bear the unmistakeable impression of their region's strengths and weaknesses. This book would be of interest to anyone working in research, marketing or management in the chemical industry. This book would be of particular value for individuals in M&A and business development programs as the different corporate cultures and technology strengths should be considered prior to entering into inter-regional mergers, new market entry and/or joint development projects.

"How the West Grew Rich" is a thorough treatise on the rise of capitilism in the nation-states of the west, from feudal society towards modern times. Rosenthal and Birdzell discuss in the appearances of the requirements for capitilism, such as acknowledgment of property rights and consistent and predictable law. Also discussed are the political, social, or economic changes that caused feudal society to crumble and a variety of free markets to gradually take root and then blossom in Europe.

This book was thorough and informative, though a bit repetitive and somewhat dry. It makes a wonderful companion to Diamond's "Guns, Germs, and Steel", filling in where the later left off.

I found stale recounting of very well-known facts about 20th century technologies and their economics, with no insights. Since it covers the gamut from plastics to jet engines to microprocessors, and it's only 200 pages in a fairly large typeface, I wasn't expecting historical depth. But I was expecting at least one fresh idea. I bought it on the strength of a much earlier book by Nathan Rosenberg (about technology in the economy of the 19th century). I was disappointed. I get the feeling the book is intended as a brief survey for people who just came down in the last shower -- college freshmen born in the 1980s. I'll bet they find it kinda stodgy.

Thankfully, this book is more accessible than the blurb would lead one to believe. A useful summary.