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Inventing Modern by John Lienhard, Oxford University Press, 拢13.99/$28, ISBN 0195160320 Reviewed by Wendy M. Grossman

鈥淢ODERN鈥� meant 鈥渘ow鈥� when I was growing up. For John Lienhard, 鈥渕odern鈥� means the first half of the 20th century, when change came in a furious rush: electricity, aeroplanes, quantum mechanics, art deco and skyscrapers.

Lienhard鈥檚 history of modern links disparate developments that normally never appear in the same book. Automobiles, for example, brought with them roadside advertising, fast food and urban sprawl.

Where did modern go? Lienhard says it ran out of steam, and digital overtook it. Now, he hopes we can recover its lost hope and mystery.