The Way Things Work [Hardcover]

David Macaulay (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

From levers to lasers, from cameras to computers, this 384-page volume is a remarkable overview of the machines and inventions that shape our lives, amusingly presented with a large dose of Macaulay's wit and personality.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

David Macaulay has made it his business to demystify science and technology for children (and certainly one or two surreptitious adults) with his worldwide bestseller, The New Way Things Work. Packed with information on the inner workings of everything from the World Wide Web to windmills, the remarkable and humorous book guides readers through the fundamental principles of machines. And now Macaulay and his trusty mammoth sidekick are back, ready to make science even more fun and comprehensible. The Way Things Work Kit is a hands-on, fully interactive kit, equipped with everything needed to perform over 50 activities, including the construction of 12 working models. A handy cardboard carrying case opens to reveal a guidebook, a CD-ROM with instructions on how to build your own pinball games, activity cards, and more than 100 basic components that fit together to make models from a balloon-powered car to a robot arm to a fairground ride. Children will be absorbed for hours as they learn about levers and hydraulics, winches and friction, inertia and pneumatics. Future engineers--not to mention just regular humans--couldn't have a better introduction to the way things work. (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4 Up Gorgeous line drawings in Macaulay's familiar style, enhanced with watercolors, combine with virtually encyclopedic coverage of how things work to create this absolutely captivating look at the world's technology. Subjects are arranged into four broad categories: units on mechanical devices (simple machines, friction); the use of the elements (wind, water, heat), waves (light and sound); and electronics include both the immense (space shuttles) and the miniscule (an automobile's thermostat). Information presented is up-to-date (compact discs, breath testers), and the introductions and descriptions are well-written and clear. Whimsical woolly mammoths appear to demonstrate principles, take credit for inventions, and speculate on the causes of their own extinction. The number of devices described here defies enumeration: the thorough index, which lists items under both their own terms and under larger, broad headings (e.g., the term synchromesh is also found under car), contains approximately 900 entries. The two-volume The Way Things Work: Encyclopedia of Modern Technology (S. & S.) offers a competitive number of items in a more straightforward fashion, but it is not as entertaining as Macaulay's work. How Does It Work? (Facts on File, 1976) by Chris Cooper and Jane Insley and How Things Work (National Geographic, 1983) by Donald J. Crump both present excellent photography and diagrams with utilitarian text, but neither covers anywhere near as many devices or competes with Macaulay's creativity. A book to be treasured as both a browsing item and as a gold mine of reference information. Jeffrey A. French, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books (October 24, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395428572
• ISBN-13: 978-0395428573
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #79 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > How Things Work

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Is Great!, March 21, 2000

By 

Matt Kurtin (France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Way Things Work (Hardcover)

This book gives a great overview of how simple and complicated mechanical devices work. It really helped me for school projects, and is just a fun book to read. It's a great book for kids and adults alike, if you buy it you won't regret it. Two thumbs up!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Educational Comedy, March 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Way Things Work (Hardcover)

The Way Things Work by David MacAulay is an encyclopedia of technology hidden in a children's book. The illustrations are designed to encapsulate each description for children, but the text is fashioned in such a way that both the child and the adult can glean differing levels of understanding from it. The aspect of humor is used to make the information more palatable, and was one of the most endearing parts of the book. One of the best features of this book is its exceptional illustrations done in pen and ink involving cavemen and woolly mammoths. I was expecting to buy a juvenille explanation of simplistic household objects and got a book that I repeatedly borrowed from its recipient to read for myself (much to his chagrin). I was quite impressed and would reccomend this book to anyone looking to purchase an in-depth "But Why?" book for a youngster or an enjoyable plain-english technology manual for adults.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My review on The Way Things Work, April 21, 2000

By 

Ivan Cvitkovic (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Way Things Work (Hardcover)

The Way Things Work explains how ordinary and unordinary objects work. For example you would never think that a fission bomb would implod before it exploded or that a red piece of paper is red because it reflects cyan and yellow light. It gives detailed explanation of the forces and energies used in that device. It also gives fictional stories about how that energy and/or force could be used.