Cool Stuff and How It Works [Hardcover]

Chris Woodford (Author), Ben Morgan (Author), Clint Witchalls (Author), Luke Collins (Author), James Flint (Author), Kevin Jones (Illustrator), Andrew Kerr (Illustrator), Lee Gibbons (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

From microchips and iPods to robots in the human bloodstream, Cool Stuff and How It Works takes the reader on an eye-opening journey through the world of modern technology. Tech-savvy kids will love learning all about today's most innovative inventions-where they came from, how they do what they do, and where they might take us in the future.a

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

We revel in working and playing with high-tech gadgetry, addicted to our cell phones, computers, digital cameras, and MP3 Players and more, but we rarely stop to think how these things actually work. Even home appliances such as refrigerators and microwave ovens use technology that many people don't understand yet take completely for granted. This colorfully illustrated picture book uses advanced imaging technology such as X rays, scanning electron micrographs, and infrared thermograms, along with traditional graphics, to reveal the workings of all this and more, from the Internet and computers to advanced textiles, space-age materials, and medical marvels. Even conveniences as basic as a match and a lightbulb are dissected with brilliant photography. Includes numerous examples where man-made inventions mimic the example of nature, such as fluorescent lights from bioluminescence and Velcro from the burr plant. Summed up with a technology time line, biographies of groundbreaking inventors, and a glossary of "techno terms," this will rate high on the "cool" factor, whether at home, school, or library. David Siegfried
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"...a fascinating, thorough look at modern technology." -- Library Media Connection

"For any curious kid finding his was in the modern world, this is the book to own." -- Practical Homeschooling

"Teens who enjoy taking `stuff` apart in order to find out how it works will spend hours poring over this eye-opening book." -- Science

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN (October 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756614651
• ISBN-13: 978-0756614652
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #719,234 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From MP3 Players to Nanorobots in Amazing Color Photographs, June 9, 2006

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cool Stuff and How It Works (Hardcover)

Through the use of cutaways and exploded views pictures reveal the internal workings of objects and explain various layers and how elements are assembled. This provides fascinating explanations of objects that may otherwise remain a mystery. No need to take apart your MP3 player, you can see inside the player on page 71. There is an explanation of how MP3 compression works along with a 3-D graph.

There are six main chapters:

Connect: Microchips, cell phones, fiber optics, digital radio, voice recognition, satellite, Internet...

Play: Soccer, fabric, cameras, games, guitars, compact discs, MP3 Players, headphones, Fireworks...

Live: Light bulbs, mirrors, solar cells, microwaves, aerogel, shavers, washing machines and robots.

Move: Motorcycles, cars, wheelchairs, jet engines, navigation, space probes, elevators, wind tunnels and space shuttles.

Work: Digital pens, laptops, virtual keyboards, laser printer, smart cards, robot worker, fire suits, radio ID tag, glue and wet welding.

Survive: Laser surgery, robot surgery, MRI scan, pacemaker, cells, vaccination and antibiotics

You may enjoy reading about how fireworks explode and why they display various colors. The pet translator helps you to find out if your dogs barking indicates needy, happy or assertive behavior. Virtual keyboards make using a PDA much easier now that you can type on any flat space.

One of the most fascinating DK books in print. A must have for every library and school, not to mention home library.

~The Rebecca Review

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plenty of colorful visual powers, diagrams, cut-aways and scientific detail to intrigue grades 6-9, January 14, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cool Stuff and How It Works (Hardcover)

From iPods to medicine, washing machines to motorized wheelchairs, and scanners to flash sticks, the latest modern technological innovations are reviewed in a vivid survey of the science behind the invention. The latest devices present in our daily lives, from solar cells and microwaves to compact discs, are surveyed in a lively, photo-packed chapters which include plenty of colorful visual powers, diagrams, cut-aways and scientific detail to intrigue grades 6-9.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for introducing kids to technology, May 8, 2007

By 

Jerry Saperstein (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cool Stuff and How It Works (Hardcover)

Kids are surrounded by technology these days, but unfortunately fewer and fewer of them appear to know how their gadgets or the world around them works.

This book is a good introduction, even if it is a bit lightweight.

There's a mix of ordinary things like electric shavers and guitars, the somewhat exotic like fiber optics and things mostly on the drawing board like fuel-cell cars. In all, more than 90 objects, processes and technologies are described.

The explanations are all essentially superficial and profusely illustrated. It's enough to get a young person interested and perhaps move them along to considering learning more about technology.

Jerry