The Way Things Work: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Technology [Hardcover]

C. van Amerongen (Translator)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 592 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (August 1967)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0000913154
• ISBN-13: 978-0000913159
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #700,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic book on technology, November 19, 2000

By 

"mymantra" (Milpitas, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Way Things Work: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Technology (Hardcover)

One of a kind book that still has not been duplicated.

The use of 2-color drawings only forces a precision and clarity of communication that tends to get lost in the hype of our multimedia world. Perhaps the Germanic minimalism in the Bauhaus tradition.

I still refer to it even though most of the "state of the art" in this book was mid-1960s. This book fills in alot of the "technology infrastructure" and supply chain networks that are essential to end products people actually see.

I would love to see this book brought back to print with new updated information. Keep exactly the same style: left page of text, right page of 2-color diagrams, one thought per page pair. The format is thoroughly modern in the sense that the content is perfectly suited to internet-centered presentation. You can enter the book at any page and pick up a self-contained piece of knowledge. Very web-like.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Primer on Processes, July 10, 2002

By 

Darrin Rice "HKMk23" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Way Things Work: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Technology (Hardcover)

A classic!

My Father bought this book new and, as a boy, I spent hours poring over the process diagrams, reading the text and connecting one with the other, the wheels turning in my mind, gradually unlocking the mysteries of technology. I found that having one process explained often spurred curiosity in another up- or down-stream process that was, in turn, explained in the book. Thus, a caveat: DO NOT pick up this book intending to "just take a quick look at something". That isn't going to happen; at least not until you know enough to have written it yourself.

Whether you are a working professional or student seeking an overview, a technically-minded child or adult broadening your knowledge, or simply a curious but casual reader, this book is highly recommended. Much of it remains valid, despite it's age.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reference book for the layman, October 7, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Norcross, Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Way Things Work: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Technology (Hardcover)

The Way Things Work is an illustrated volume that is essential for a well-stocked reference library. From the juke box to the diesel engine, the easy-to-understand descriptions and drawings explain to everyone exactly how and why things work the way they do. Hundreds of items are included allowing quick checks of whatever subject happens to come up at home or the office.