Customer Reviews

Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just got done reading this aloud to my homeschooled 6th grade twins. What a treasure! The author weaves together mathematical and scientific principles into a delightful story format. My kids had no trouble understanding the well-illustrated concepts.

We used this book in our unit study on Ancient Greece. It just so happened, that during the reading, our Science lesson was on the six simple machines, a few of which Archimedes was the founder! As if all this isn't enough, my children took away with them an interesting outlook. We take the principles such as the center of gravity, buoyancy, pi, exponents, all that we know about geometry, etc. for granted. It's so much a part of our lives. This book helped us to imagine a time when these concepts were yet to be uncovered, an exciting time in the development of applied science and technology. It also helped us see Archimedes as a real man, and not just another boring scientist to learn about.

Even though my kids are homeschooled, they moan and groan about their work just like any other kids. This book was still able to capture them. It was a great selection that complemented our studies very well, and was a good investment of time and money.

As a blind buy, but still needing an upper-elementary level book on Archimedes, I was more than happily surprised to see what an absolute gem this book was! Well written, easily understood, yet not too basic, the author weaves and explains scientific and mathematical principles in a story-like form that entranced my homeschooled fifth-grader. This is one he'll want to read over and over--not a book he felt he "had" to read. I highly recommend its purchase.

I have had an interest in buying this book for many years. It is recommended in virtually every reputable catalog. It just always seemed like when essential schoolbooks were purchased, it didn't make sense to purchase a book about just ONE person. Well, that was a gigantic mistake on my part. The accomplishments of Archimedes made him one of the most important founders of science. This captivating book tells the story of Archimedes life AND gives vivid imagery to his accomplishments through simple, effective text and delightful illustrations. From my 3rd grader to my 10th grader, they all eagerly finished the book with enthusiastic comprehension. Of course, the "Eureka" story stood out to all, but other concepts such as levers and water displacement were covered in a way that brought clarity to those scientific principles. So this book is not about one man, but a plethora of important scientific observations.

Not only is this book an educational and interesting read, it also inspires investigation into Archimedian principles and inventions. The drawings illustrate these scientific principles clearly. Our favorite part is when Archimedes finally makes a break through with displacement and density and runs through the streets stark naked shouting, "Eureka!"

Placing scientific theory in historical context is a concept that sounds dreadful. My children loved it. They adore the comic stories of Archimedes. My eight year-old son couldn't put it down. As a parent of a boy to 'hates to read,' it was AMAZING to hear my son giggling and laughing out loud while studying history and science on his own. What was even more thrilling, was listening to him apply the knowledge to everything from playing with Knex to a catapult.

Like others, I read this to my homeschooled children. After reading this book, I probably appreciated Archimedes more than they did. For adults and children alike, this is a great introduction to one of the world's (not just the ancient world's) analytical thinkers. This book presents a good mix of scientific education and humanizing biography. We learn that Archimedes died too soon as the result of a stupid misunderstanding, and the world was denied the other scientific advances that he could have given us.

This book is about Archimedes' life. He found out how to measure a circle and the principle of buoyancy. He invented the Archimedes' screw. He moved a ship full of cargo with one hand and a machine he built. And he did all this without electricity. I think that you will love this book.

This book is engaging and funny, smart and clever, profound and simple. It may be the best book I have read this year, because even though written for young readers, it is packed with information.

Ancient Sicily becomes accessible as a culture and lifestyle through this book. And Archimedes' discoveries are made clear through written descriptions and illustrations that are perfect for the text. The information about the way children were instructed in Syracuse, and then about how Archimedes furthered his education, was compelling. The love of learning shines in this book.

The geometry chapters are advanced, but not too difficult. And the section about the war machines he invented was downright fun!

There are immediate applications for learning at home -- creating mobiles to learn about centers of gravity, using levers and screws and pulleys, studying eclipses and the solar system. This is an excellent, excellent book.

First written in 1962, republished by Bethlehem Books, and a must-read. Enjoy it for yourself!

Engaging, entertaining and educational. My son is rereading multiple times... which I take as a success. I read it once and learned more than I expected. Sorry this is brief, but hope you find it helpful.

This is a 160 page chapter book (long chapters) with black and white illustrations on most pages. I am reading through this with my 8 year old. My son loves biographies, especially older ones like the Discovery and Piper books. He dreads reading this book, probably because it is a bit more dry. Even though it has many interesting stories from Archimedes's life, it spends an equal amount of time explaining the scientific principles of what he discovered. We are learning a lot as we slowly plod through the book. It does include Greek religion and does not include a Christian worldview. I would like to see if Archimedes Mathematician and Inventor may be a better option. I am coupling this book with Archimedes: Ancient Greek Mathematician (Great Names) and Mr. Archimedes' Bath (Picture Puffins) so my younger children can also learn along with us.