Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to 101 Unnecessary Inventions

The book of products that solve problems that don't exist

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. 101 Unnecessary Inventions launched in 2019; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Unnecessary Inventions▲167

   Designing products to solve problems that don't really exist

   2019 · unnecessaryinventions.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   The Laws of Simplicity▲67

   Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Problem Solving 101▲70

   A simple book for smart people

   2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Is Invisible▲436

   Hard to find, beautifully designed products

   2016 · isinvisible.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   The Messy Middle▲316

   A book about building products, by Scott Belsky

   2018 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   The Design of Everyday Things▲165

   Good, usable design is possible

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   The Non-Designer's Design Book▲71

   Basic principles of good design in a clear, simple, style

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Lovability▲117

   How to build products people love and be happy doing it

   2017 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   NeuBible▲177

   A radically simplified modern Bible for iOS

   2015 · neubible.co · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Atomic Design▲77

    Create design systems, not pages

    2016 · shop.bradfrost.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Hidden in Plain Sight▲74

    How to Create Extraordinary Products for Tomorrow's Customer

    2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Never-ending Book of Ideas▲233

    An everlasting gobstopper but replace gobstopper with ideas

    2019 · fiveideasaday.gumroad.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea▲58

    The history behind one of the most dangerous numbers

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Steal Like an Artist▲86

    10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    You’re Designing It All Wrong!▲96

    Design for a perfect screen - A free eBook for designers

    2015 · lp2.webydo.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Buddha to Bezos▲114

    Product lessons from the greatest innovators in history

    2020 · kush-apoorva.gumroad.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    The 46 Rules of Genius▲65

    An innovator's guide to creativity

    2016 · namecheap.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Ben Horowitz's Book▲114

    Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

    2014 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Meaningful: The Story of Ideas that Fly▲61

    Building ideas that make successful products

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Innovation Thinking Methods for the Modern Entrepreneur▲76

    A simple way to reliably find step-function better solutions

    2016 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Designing Products People Love▲121

    27 successful product designers reveal their secrets

    2016 · scotthurff.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Fake Science 101▲60

    A less-than-factual guide to our amazing world

    2015 · fakescience.org · its alternatives →

23. 23
    The Da Vinci Curse▲74

    Life Design for People With Too Many Interests and Talents

    2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Making It Right▲76

    Product management for a startup world

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →