Customer Reviews

Marshall Brain's How Stuff Works

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Overall this is a good book, filled with all kinds of interesting information. However, I felt that the level of editing polish was poor. Typos and illustration errors are frequent, and the writing style is uneven and awkward at times. It's also clear that the authors of each article did not read the other articles, because the same information is sometimes redundantly discussed in two or three separate articles. What's worst, though, is the number of outright factual errors: a proton does not have neutral charge, the abbreviation for microseconds is not ms, etc. My advice is to wait for the second edition, or buy one of the many similar books from other publishers instead.

This book is a great book for the amateur scientist or anyone who has an inquisitive nature. If you know someone who likes to take things apart to see how the "really" work or is forever asking "how" and "why" things work the way they do, this book is especially for that type of individual.

From airplanes and cell phones to viruses and other areas of interest, the book contains a wealth of informative facts and trivia. A terrific book for the money; it is quite in-depth but easy to read and understand.

This book is a wealth of information that everyone should have at their fingertips. No you don't really need to know all this stuff by memory, but it is wonderful to be able open a reference book such as this to find out How Stuff Works. I love the website, and this book is a welcome addition to my home.

While I have not actually read the physical book, I have read the online version of it online at howstuffworks.com. I intend to purchase the physical book in the very near future.
The authors of these articles have a great gift for taking quite complex notions and explaining them in easy to understand terms - while not watering them down. I would highly suggest reading the online version at howstuffworks.com before you purchase this book to see what high quality stuff you'll be getting. Highly reccommended.

Generally a really good book, although the transition from the website to book is not exactly the most smooth one. It feels like a lot of the good stuff is lost, and it doesn't really seem like the same quality as on the website.

There are 124+ topics ranging from airplanes to dieting. There is lots of information and little sidebars with all kinds of interesting facts. You?ll learn everything from how nuclear power works to how turbochargers work and even learn how to decode all those zero?s and ones in the Mice, bits, and Bytes section. You?ll walk out knowing way more then when you walked in and when anyone says I wonder how this works, you?ll come out looking like a genius.

But it also has a few minor problems. The writing can get a little confusing, and there aren?t as many visual aids to help you understand (It might just be me, I?m a visual learner). The articles sometimes don't feel complete, you might reach the end and think ?that?s it!? Many times you find yourself returning to the website because you didn't understand the article. This might not be a bad thing after all because at most, you?ll start learning all kinds of new stuff anyways.

Overall, it does have its problems, but it's good outweighs it's bad and is highly recommended.

Based on the amazing aggregate of information collected upon the famous web site HowStuffWorks.com, How Stuff Works is an exciting reference as suitable for curious adults as it is for inquiring children that explains, in practical terms that any lay reader can easily understand, the functional principle or mechanism behind a vast array of common inventions, tools, and ideas. The casual browser will learn a wealth of information from how four-stroke gasoline engines work to how file compression works, clearly illustrated with detailed diagrams and enhanced with sidebar commentary. The more serious reader will come away from How Stuff Works with a notably higher understanding and appreciation of the technological innovations so many others simply use and take for granted. How Stuff Works is superb for educational leisure reading, and is a highly recommended gift book for any friend or family member who is curious about what makes everything around them tick!

This book is a must for people of all ages. The illustations are great and help the readers understand what is being explained. The topics are very up-to-date. For example they explain how mp3 file compression format works. I got the book as a christmas gift and find myself contantly going back to the book to find out how something works.

Just as good as the other more stuff book. Great for kids so they know how things work instead of just using them.

This book is cool! All the stuff we take for granted every day. It tells you how it all works! It is a must read. It is so educational for any age. Our whole family loves this book. Well worth the money.

I ordered 2 for a great price and both where in near mint condition. I would definitely buy again.