Mother of Invention: How Good Ideas Get Ignored in a World Built for Men

Bestselling author Katrine Marçal reveals how our deeply ingrained ideas about gender continue to hold us back, sidelining extraordinary inventions and innovative ideas. Despite women's successes, they still fail to find and fund game-changing ideas, leading to sexism in the economy and holding us all back. Katrine Marcal's critique sets the record straight and shows how the ingenuity and intelligence of women can save us in a time of crisis.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 09 June 2022
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Waterstones Best Political Books of the Year 2021


Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal


‘I am absurdly excited for this book!’ – Caroline Criado Perez, Bestselling author


Katrine Marçal, bestselling author, reveals the shocking ways our deeply ingrained ideas about gender continue to hold us back.


In a world that remains subservient to men, extraordinary inventions and innovative ideas are often side-lined. However, it doesn't have to be this way. Throughout history, women have played a pivotal role in shaping our society, offering ingenious solutions to some of our most pressing problems.


More recently, women have revolutionized the way we shop online, improved the lives of disabled individuals, and brought the climate crisis to the forefront of global discussions. Despite these remarkable achievements, we continue to underestimate the consequences of sexism in our economy. We fail to find and fund game-changing ideas that could alter the future of our planet, with only 3% of venture capital going to female founders. Instead, ingrained ideas about men and women continue to shape our economic decisions, favoring men and leading us to the same tired set of solutions.


For too long, we have underestimated the impact of sexism on our economy and the way it holds both women and men back. Katrine Marçal's blistering critique sets the record straight, showcasing how the ingenuity and intelligence of women can be the catalyst for saving us during times of crisis.


This book is a powerful reminder that gender should not be a barrier to success and that women have the potential to make a significant impact on the world. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the challenges faced by women in the workplace and society, and the solutions that can be implemented to create a more equitable and inclusive future.

Weight: 220g
Dimension: 198 x 129 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008430818