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Ponderables: 100 Discoveries that Changed History, Who Did What When
Engineering: An Illustrated History from Ancient Craft to Modern Technology (100 Ponderables)
From ancient aqueducts to soaring skyscrapers, explore engineering milestones over the centuries.
Combining engaging text with captivating images and helpful diagrams, renowned science writer Tom Jackson guides readers through the history of Engineering in this engaging installment of the groundbreaking Ponderables[[ series.
The story of engineering is the story of humankind itself. From the crudely knapped hand axes of our human ancestor Homo Habilis to the mind-blowing ways in which modern engineering has improved our quality of daily life to the ways in which it promises to expand the scope of civilization and broaden the future of human existence, this authoritative reference book offers an essential guide to the history of engineering in 100 chronological steps.
Combining engaging text with captivating images and helpful diagrams, renowned science writer Tom Jackson guides readers through the history of Engineering in this engaging installment of the groundbreaking Ponderables[[ series.
The story of engineering is the story of humankind itself. From the crudely knapped hand axes of our human ancestor Homo Habilis to the mind-blowing ways in which modern engineering has improved our quality of daily life to the ways in which it promises to expand the scope of civilization and broaden the future of human existence, this authoritative reference book offers an essential guide to the history of engineering in 100 chronological steps.
168 pages, Hardcover
First published October 25, 2016
11 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 13, 2016
Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by feats of engineering, even though I wouldn’t have known back then they were products of “engineering.” For example, I was obsessed with knowing more about the improbable construction of pyramids, how it was that voices could be sent over telephones, how tunnels could be built underwater, and more recently, how the world wide web could be so fast.
All of these topics and more are part of this overview of engineering feats from the beginning of civilization. As the author writes:
“The scientists who push back the boundaries of knowledge are rightly applauded, but it is the engineers who turn that knowledge into something that changes the world.”
The book reviews all sorts of machines that enabled people to pedal, sail, fly, communicate over long distances, and power up any number of devices. The author writes about the refrigerator, the transcontinental railroad, the Panama Canal, lasers, satellites, LCDs, DVDs, MRIs, smartphones, and even manmade islands and coastlines.
Jackson not only focuses on individual engineering achievements, but also reviews the basics of engineering, from the fundamentals of internal combustion, to the structural engineering that enables bridges to span large gaps, to a look at the different materials that make it all possible. You might be surprised to learn that mud, a simple mixture of earth and water, is surprisingly strong. The Great Mosque at Djenné, in Mali, is made of mud, still exists, and is now 800 years old!
He adds a list of “imponderables” - what possible innovations are in our future? Here he discusses Elon Musk’s proposed Hyperloop; the challenge of building in space; robots; clean fuels; and even how engineering might solve climate change.
A short biography of some of the greatest engineers follows. The author does a nice job here too, managing to convey the gist of their discoveries along with some of their quirks and “fun stuff” about them. For example, Heron (or Hero) of Alexandria was born around 10 CE, and yet described hundreds of mechanical devices, including dancing puppets, coin-operated machines, and a fire engine.
John Roebling, whose name many will recognize as the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge, died of tetanus after pouring unsterilized well-water on a wound. Nikola Tesla quarreled with Edison and went to work for Edison's rival Westinghouse. Tesla died in poverty however (he liked to gamble) at The New Yorker Hotel in Manhattan. Elon Musk also is featured; the author reports that actor Robert Downey modeled his Iron Man character on Musk.
Finally, a large foldout included with the book gives over 1,000 milestone facts. This poster includes a timeline showing important events corresponding to engineering achievements in the areas of Culture, World Events, and Science & Invention.
Evaluation: This book would make an excellent gift, either as a coffee table book for intermittent perusal and a goad to discussion; as a book for students to help them in school; or as an introduction to the most important artifacts and achievements in civilization.
All of these topics and more are part of this overview of engineering feats from the beginning of civilization. As the author writes:
“The scientists who push back the boundaries of knowledge are rightly applauded, but it is the engineers who turn that knowledge into something that changes the world.”
The book reviews all sorts of machines that enabled people to pedal, sail, fly, communicate over long distances, and power up any number of devices. The author writes about the refrigerator, the transcontinental railroad, the Panama Canal, lasers, satellites, LCDs, DVDs, MRIs, smartphones, and even manmade islands and coastlines.
Jackson not only focuses on individual engineering achievements, but also reviews the basics of engineering, from the fundamentals of internal combustion, to the structural engineering that enables bridges to span large gaps, to a look at the different materials that make it all possible. You might be surprised to learn that mud, a simple mixture of earth and water, is surprisingly strong. The Great Mosque at Djenné, in Mali, is made of mud, still exists, and is now 800 years old!
He adds a list of “imponderables” - what possible innovations are in our future? Here he discusses Elon Musk’s proposed Hyperloop; the challenge of building in space; robots; clean fuels; and even how engineering might solve climate change.
A short biography of some of the greatest engineers follows. The author does a nice job here too, managing to convey the gist of their discoveries along with some of their quirks and “fun stuff” about them. For example, Heron (or Hero) of Alexandria was born around 10 CE, and yet described hundreds of mechanical devices, including dancing puppets, coin-operated machines, and a fire engine.
John Roebling, whose name many will recognize as the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge, died of tetanus after pouring unsterilized well-water on a wound. Nikola Tesla quarreled with Edison and went to work for Edison's rival Westinghouse. Tesla died in poverty however (he liked to gamble) at The New Yorker Hotel in Manhattan. Elon Musk also is featured; the author reports that actor Robert Downey modeled his Iron Man character on Musk.
Finally, a large foldout included with the book gives over 1,000 milestone facts. This poster includes a timeline showing important events corresponding to engineering achievements in the areas of Culture, World Events, and Science & Invention.
Evaluation: This book would make an excellent gift, either as a coffee table book for intermittent perusal and a goad to discussion; as a book for students to help them in school; or as an introduction to the most important artifacts and achievements in civilization.
March 14, 2025
The graphic within the first few pages that outlines the various forms of engineering from chemical and structural to mechanical and civil was the best introduction to the world of engineering. Then to move through 100 things from past to present like the wheel and the robot, the internet and paper, it highlights the marvel of the discovery and invention based on the materials that were around. Plus in some instances whether it was accidental or on purpose as was the case with the gentleman who created the matchstick after the materials created a fire and he found a way to harness is in a little stick.
Surprising and unsurprising, it's all worth celebrating and has made and will continue to make our lives what they are such as robots that will be able to get to places that humans can't get to or that are too dangerous to enter. However, I'm still dumbfounded every time I read anything related to the pyramids and Stonehenge (but more specifically the times of megalithic structures they call menhirs, trilithons, and lintels (like Stonehenge). Answers but still so many questions.
And I enjoyed the mythbusting too-- that astronauts really can't see the Great Wall of China from space.
Surprising and unsurprising, it's all worth celebrating and has made and will continue to make our lives what they are such as robots that will be able to get to places that humans can't get to or that are too dangerous to enter. However, I'm still dumbfounded every time I read anything related to the pyramids and Stonehenge (but more specifically the times of megalithic structures they call menhirs, trilithons, and lintels (like Stonehenge). Answers but still so many questions.
And I enjoyed the mythbusting too-- that astronauts really can't see the Great Wall of China from space.
February 16, 2020
4/5 Stars
Engineering is such a vast and fascinating subject, this book is a great overview or introductory to the topic. This book covers 100 achievements of engineering that changed history, but it also has a brief review covering the basics of engineering (at the back, after the achievements). There is also included some “Imponderables” - what could possibly come to be in the future. I found these to be quite fascinating, even if some of them seem “impossible” right now - well that’s what people have said about the moon too, and flying, and any number of things that have come to pass. At the end of the book, there is a collection of short biographies of some of the greatest engineers.
And lets not forget the gorgeous fold out that is included with this book, detailing the timeline history of engineering, colorful (and color coded) illustrated and easy to read. It was a great book to read (I read it mostly bit by bit), full of interesting information and facts for the curious mind.
Engineering is such a vast and fascinating subject, this book is a great overview or introductory to the topic. This book covers 100 achievements of engineering that changed history, but it also has a brief review covering the basics of engineering (at the back, after the achievements). There is also included some “Imponderables” - what could possibly come to be in the future. I found these to be quite fascinating, even if some of them seem “impossible” right now - well that’s what people have said about the moon too, and flying, and any number of things that have come to pass. At the end of the book, there is a collection of short biographies of some of the greatest engineers.
And lets not forget the gorgeous fold out that is included with this book, detailing the timeline history of engineering, colorful (and color coded) illustrated and easy to read. It was a great book to read (I read it mostly bit by bit), full of interesting information and facts for the curious mind.
March 8, 2019
170 - 2019
January 14, 2025
This is a great book that illustrates some of the most important feats of engineering of all time. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes is would like to get into engineering.
December 27, 2025
This was a great overview of all different types of engineering and great engineering advancements throughout history.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews