The Book of Massively Epic Engineering Disasters: 33 Thrilling Experiments Based on History's Greatest Blunders

by Sean Connolly

It’s hands-on science with a capital “E”—for engineering.

Beginning with the toppling of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, to the destructive, laserlike sunbeams bouncing off London’s infamous “Fryscraper” in 2013, here is an illustrated tour of the greatest engineering disasters in history, from the bestselling author of The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science .

Each engineering disaster includes a simple, exciting experiment or two using everyday household items to explain the underlying science and put learning into action. Understand the Titanic ’s demise by sinking an ice-cube-tray ocean liner in the bathtub. Stomp on a tube of toothpaste to demonstrate what happens to non-Newtonian fluids under pressure—and how a ruptured tank sent a tsunami of molasses through the streets of Boston in 1919.

From why the Leaning Tower of Pisa leans to the fatal design flaw in the Sherman tank, here’s a book of science at its most riveting.

 

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, History, Stem, Middle Grade, Childrens

256 pages, Hardcover

Published September 5, 2017

About the author

Sean Connolly will be familiar to listeners of BBC Radio Five Live and Radio Wales. Among his more than 50 books aimed at children and adults are Wholly Irresponsible Experiments and Witness to History: The Industrial Revolution. He has also written for the Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia. His three children are either collaborators or guinea pigs, depending on the project.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Kid Lit Exchange for access to a free review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Books about STEM are everywhere these days. This one, which features historical engineering feats and dissects their downfalls using modern day science, is fun and unique. Each disaster featured includes What Went Wrong (explanation), Turn Back the Clock (reflect using modern scientific knowledge), and then one or two related experiments. It’s full of fact boxes, definitions, and historical information. Intended for ages 9+, this book is going to appeal to lots of middle grade readers.

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book of Massively Epic Engineering Disasters: 33 Thrilling Experiments Based on History's Greatest Blunders by Sean Connolly is a children's non fiction book that explores and explains some of the more interesting engineering blunders of the world. Ever wonder why Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa has been slowly toppling over for centuries? Stack books on a foundation of paper balls to learn about rickety building foundations and center of mass. How about the 15-foot-high tidal wave of molasses that tore through the streets of Boston in the Great Molasses Flood of 1919? Karate chop a full tube of toothpaste (outside!) to demonstrate the messy behavior of non-Newtonian fluids.

The Book of Massively Epic Engineering Disasters offers young (and adult) readers information and activities that bring that information home. It is an illustrated look at the physics and technology that makes up crumbling buildings, sinking ships, wobbly bridges, mud-stuck tanks, and so on. I like that the book covers well known engineering issues, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Titanic, but it also deals with lesser known mistakes like the Fidnae Stadium collapse in ancient Rome. There are also 33 hands-on experiments to help readers see their new understanding and information in action.

The Book of Massively Epic Engineering Disasters will help Children and adults understand the science and concepts behind these mishaps and disasters while offering pathways to further information and research. This is a good book for use in schools, independent study, homeschooling, or simply reading by those that are interested in the information included.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really well researched and beautifully illustrated book aimed at middle readers. Important engineering concepts such as stability, center of mass, movement, potential energy, load bearing and materials use, among others, are defined and illustrated through experiments. Each of the experiments is used to explain engineering disasters from the ancient world up to the modern day.

The chapters are broken up into digestible sidebars and short texts which are full of interesting trivia. The book could have been very dry and, dare I say, boring. It's emphatically not boring. I really enjoyed reading the history and the whys-and-wherefores of the science behind the scenes.

STEM (science technology engineering and math) education is so vitally important to problem solving and progress as well as safeguarding our limited resources. Getting young people interested with accessible and fun learning materials is a huge positive part of the equation.

This book would a welcome addition to a classroom unit on engineering or natural science as well as a good starting point for a multitude of science fair projects or a homeschooling unit.

It's a solid book, 256 pages, and very useful and interesting for budding engineers.

Five stars
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Fun, informative and experiential approach to design blunders throughout the centuries. Using memorable and some obscure engineering miscalculations throughout history, the author explains in very understandable terms the mistake that lead to disaster and then sets forth a very do-able experiment to show the science behind what went wrong. The various chapters in the book could lead to some fine science fair entries as well as classroom experiments that will illustrate numerous scientific facts that will stick in students minds forever. From the Leaning Tower of Pisa to the Hindenburg, the Tay Bridge Collapse to the Fryscraper, The Trapped Chilean Miners to the Titanic, memorable disasters can lead to memorable science -- and fun do-at-home experiments! Great book for the curious middle grade student or parent / teacher who wants a hands-on approach to applied science. Highly recommend. Would be terrific for a homeschool environment as well.

[RebL · Rating 4 out of 5]

We got this book from the library because the 8YO had to do a presentation on the Leaning Tower of Pisa, so we continued on reading it at bedtime. He enjoyed learning about the other disasters, including my personal favorite, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse. He does object to the term "disaster" for some of the entries - he says the builders of the Spruce Goose were just doing what they'd been asked to do and it's not their fault the war ended before they were done, and also the Metrodome deflating was more of an inconvenience than a disaster, because no one was hurt and they were still able to play football elsewhere. I have to admit he has a point. Also, he made me skip the chapter on the Boston Molasses Flood because he already knew about that one. BUT OTHER THAN THAT he would recommend this book for your inquisitive 8-year-old also, especially the Fryscaper entry.

[Carolyn Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved Perfectly Perilous Math, Totally Irresponsible Science, and Potentially Catastrophic Science, so when I saw this was available I knew I needed to check it out!

And, it did not disappoint!

This book describes 20 famous disasters - think the sinking of the Titanic or the failure of theTacoma Narrows Bridge - and then gives an experiment to help learners understand the scientific principles that led to the disaster. The experiments used common household materials - no trips to the chemical supply house needed!

I'd say the experiments are targeted to elementary age, and the information on the disasters could be fun for anyone.

Highly recommend!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun! We loved Perfectly Perilous Math so we thought we’d try another book by this author. It did not disappoint. Quick and easily digestible but full of great information and hands-on experiments to demonstrate the concepts discussed. Probably best for the 8-12 age range, but I also found it fascinating.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book! Opinion is my own 😘 Great book about engineering disasters-many of which I have never heard about! Includes experiments that readers can try...would be a fun book to add to a makerspace in a classroom or library! 👍🏻👍🏻

[West Hartford Children's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book showcases 33 Experiments that demonstrate what happened in history’s most famous engineering disasters; such as the demise of Titanic. Perfect for those loving science, technology, or why things happen. For the curious mind!

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book where students not only learn about famous architecture but also can do hands on experiments to help understand why things went wrong. Students who love experimenting will especially love this book.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun! A well researched introduction to root cause analysis of why things fail by looking at some of the biggest in history. Backed up with you-can-do-this-at-home experimental guides to learn the principles being discussed in a well-thought out step-wise manner.

Hella fun!

[Hillary Overton · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wished I had this book when I was teaching Science in 3rd grade. Excellent hands on experiments and explains science terms well.

[Terry Filkohazi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting to learn about these disasters & what could have been done to prevent them.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

The primitivist take on Engineering: gossip, hindsight, superstition. A good lecture, but it reads like one of a million trivia blog posts.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a few of the disasters. I really want to read more, but I have it the book for weeks and haven't gotten to it. I will have to try again later.

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't realize this book was for children. I would have liked more in-depth analysis of what went wrong and fewer cheesy experiments with marshmallows and jello.

[Elexndra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting reading about these epic fails of engineering
Library borrow

[Ümit Mutlu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sean Connolly'nin kitapların cidden olağanüstü. "Ansiklopedi okuyarak büyüyen çocuk"lardan biri olsam da, bu tarz kitapları o dönemlerde görsem ufkum daha da açılırmış.

Fakat bu kitap daha da müthiş: Rodos Heykeli'nin yıkılışından Titanic'in batışına, Hindenburg'un alev alev yanışından Şilili madencilerin kurtarılışına kadar, içinden mühendislik geçen 20 adet tarihi olayı ele alıyor ve A'sından Z'sine kadar, ince ince anlatıyor. Yetmiyor, deneylerle de destekletiyor. Ve kesinlikle ama kesinlikle, küçük-büyük demeden herkese hitap ediyor.

Bilim ve teknoloji elbette bambaşka şeylerdir aslında ve bu kitap, bilimin teknolojideki yansımasını harikulade aktarıyor, hem de her zamanki gibi süper eğlenceli bir üslup ve rengârenk görsellerle.

Seviyoruz seni Sean abi.

[Debbie Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny easy read

[Mrs C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children will breeze through the concepts with plenty of tidbits to spur further reading. It is a good supplement for school and also a good resource to homeschooling.