This book is written for anyone who wants to understand the mechanisms of wealth creation and economic growth.

It examines how mankind has taken increasing control over his environment; the developed nations enjoying surplus of food, people travelling fast and freely, communicating with others anywhere and developing substantial control over disease. These achievements all rely on artefacts incorporating new ideas and technologies and they have driven economic growth and created new wealth.

Making Things from New Ideas analyses the underlying processes that are going on in the creation of economic growth through making things and also reveals the traps which can inhibit or even prevent growth. The book is based on extensive research on the history of science and technology and builds on case studies drawn from the scientific enlightenment up to the industrial revolution. This shows, in a much simplified way, the innovations and artefacts that those scientists and innovators produced in the 18th century and how these creative processes still drive the global economy today.

The current debate surrounding the fundamental importance of manufacturing as against service industries is addressed, and a model illustrating their interdependent roles in the economic growth process is presented. Predictions and conclusions are drawn.

Summary published in Journal of History of Technology, Volume 26, 2005, Published by Continuum, 2006, pp 1. - 21.
ISBN 0-8264-8970-2

Making Things from New Ideas - the secret of prosperity, 2005, Published by The Dawes Trust Ltd. ISBN 978-0-9551089-0-7

Making Things from New Ideas, The Secret of Prosperity, is written by Howard Dawes and Christopher Dawes in collaboration with Gerry Martin and Alan Macfarlane. It is published by The Dawes Trust Limited, First Edition 2005.

Howard Dawes FCA, FRAS has spent over 40 years in a successful business career in banking, venture capital and entrepreneurship. In parallel and almost as a diversion he has made a private study of the English Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution in Britain, which gave rise to the Industrial Revolution. Close examination of the instruments of the period and their development has been particularly relevant.

Christopher Dawes BSc. has built his career in commerce and industry, specialising in sales, marketing and business development. He spent five years in Brazil, carrying out research on innovation, economic growth and wealth creation, alongside teaching business administration courses to executives. He now consults on business development to universities, technology companies and private clients.

Gerry Martin was a former Managing Director and co-founder of Eurotherm Ltd. He was also a historian with particular interest in scientific instruments and in 1996 was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science at Sussex University. He died in 2004.

Alan Macfarlane is Professor of Anthropological Science at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of King's College and of the British Academy. He is a well-known author and television presenter. His fifteen books include Letters to Lily, The Glass Bathyscaphe (with Gerry Martin), Witchcraft in Tudor and Stuart England, The Origins of English Individualism and The Riddle of the Modern World.