My bathroom reading of late has been a book I picked up at Half Price, Prometheans in the Lab (Another one of those history of chemistry books I tend to pick up.) I had just finished the chapter on Norbert Rillieux the guy to whom you probably owe your sugar addictions.
Then earlier today, I found this article (via metafilter) on Harry Coover the guy responsible for super glues (Also a question subject at either TRASH regionals or nationals).
The common thread between these two: Both are 2004 inductees into the National Inventors Hall of Fame