Source of book image: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/081763312X/ref=cm_rdp_product
Many years ago, I presented a paper on polywater at a conference at VPI (now called "Virginia Tech"). An old man in the audience came up to me afterwards, and told me about a book he had written called The Tender Ship. It sounded intriguing so eventually I bought a copy and read it.
It is well-written, creative, and rich with examples.
The central thesis is that the government usually is not very good at directing technology.
The book reference is:
Squires, Arthur M. The Tender Ship: Government Management of Technological Change. Boston, Massachusetts: Birkhauser, 1986.