This isn't a novel. There's no plot twist on page 200. Instead, Manufacturing Cost Data on Artificial Ice is a detailed technical report from 1902. Authors Otto Luhr and Herman Friedl were engineers who surveyed ice plants across the United States. They broke down everything: the cost of coal, the price of ammonia, the wages for workers, and the output of different machinery. Their goal was to figure out the most efficient and cheapest way to manufacture ice, turning a luxury into a commonplace item.

Why You Should Read It

Don't let the title fool you. This book is a secret window into how the modern world was built, one block of ice at a time. Reading it, you feel the intense pressure of early 20th-century competition. It shows how innovation isn't just about a bright idea—it's about making that idea affordable. You get a real sense of the hustle, the trial-and-error, and the nitty-gritty math that went into changing everyday life. It makes you appreciate the invisible systems (like cold storage for food) that we completely take for granted today.

Final Verdict

This is a niche read, but a rewarding one. It's perfect for history buffs who love seeing the 'how' behind historical change, or for anyone in business or engineering who wants a raw, unfiltered look at a startup industry from over a hundred years ago. If you enjoy stories about invention and infrastructure, give this a look. You'll never think about your refrigerator the same way again.