Archimedes and the Door of Science

by Jeanne Bendick

2018 Reprint of 1962 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition. Not reproduced with Optical Recognition software. Illustrated Edition. With such inventions as the compound pulley and the Archimedean screw he provided the foundation for the sciences of mechanics and hydrostatics. And his original work as a geometrician gave modern geometry many of its basic tools. In a biography full of lively incidents, Bendick introduces Archimedes, mathematician, inventor, and great pioneer of modern scientific method. Jeanne Bendick, through text and pictures, manages to bring to life this famed mathematician who so influenced all later science. Who was Archimedes? -- The world of Archimedes -- Alexandria! -- Archimedes and his lever -- Archimedes and Kin Heiro's crown -- Archimedes and astronomy -- Archimedes and mathematics -- The measurement of a circle -- Archimedes and numbers -- Archimedes and the centers of gravity -- The sphere and the cylinder -- The war machines of Archimedes -- The end of Archimedes -- No end to Archimedes -- Archimedes' writings.

Genres: Science, History, Biography, Nonfiction, School, Childrens, Ancient History

154 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Jeanne Bendick was born February 25, 1919, in New York City. When she was growing up, her grandfather taught her how to draw. He often took her to the American Museum of Natural History in New York to see the different kinds of art.

In her books, Jeanne Bendick liked to make her drawings very simple. In many of her books, she helps her readers see how science is a part of everyday life. With her words and pictures, she takes things that are complicated and makes them easy to understand.

Jeanne Bendick wrote over 100 books and also wrote filmstrip and television scripts.

Reviews

[Jovi Ene · Rating 5 out of 5]

O nouă etapă în aflarea tainelor celor mai importanți oameni de știință ai omenirii, cartea lui Jeanne Bendick se ocupă de matematicianul, fizicianul, inventatorul Arhimede, grec din Siracusa, Sicilia. Volumul se ocupă și de viața lui, dar ”grosul” este dat de nenumăratele sale teorii și aplicațiile acestora în practică, mai ales în domeniile pe care le utilizăm și noi, după 2000 de ani, la fel de mult: matematica, astronomia, fizica. Aflăm multe lucruri despre pârghii, cerc, numere, sferă sau cilindru, dar și despre felul în care mașinăriile lui au fost utilizate în războaie. Informații multe, dar și ilustrații foarte potrivite.

[Amy T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this as part of the Beautiful Feet History of Science curriculum. My kids liked it, and we learned a lot about the genius Archimedes. So many math concepts we take for granted, like the fact that numbers go on infinitely, actually had to be discovered.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I have known about this book for years and years but finally got around to taking it off the shelf and reading it straight through. I had assumed it was more biographical, with accounts of the particular discoveries woven into the story. There is some of that, but what surprised me was the amazingly thorough coverage of scientific topics - the simple machines section (ch. 4 & 5) is just pure gold (unadulterated by any silver).

Bendick also does an excellent job of presenting the historical context - she addresses how ideas spread at the time (introducing trade routes and geography) and also discusses the curiosity of the Greeks and the development of philosophy. This is all done in such a simple and straightforward manner that it is perfectly appropriate for young students. In the end we get a very good introduction to: physics (machines, gravity, density), geometry (plane and solid), astronomy, all in relation to Archimedes and the Greek world of the time. I think the book might be most useful in generating an overall curiosity about those fundamental things that could then be used as a springboard for further studies. Even older students could benefit from a review because everything is presented so clearly that the connections and consequences are immediately visible.

Bendick's illustrations are simple and attractive, just perfect for this book.

[Alise · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay I guess

[Gina Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 6th grader is reading this this term, it’s a very simple book about most of Archimedes’ theories and discoveries and was actually pretty interesting. It also includes several simple experiments you can do to demonstrate some of his discoveries. AmblesideOnline Year 6.

[Lydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. (It was a school book)

[Brit Chhangur · Rating 4 out of 5]

AO year 6 pre-read! Very engaging and some hands-on activities scattered throughout!

[Erin Ching · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book about a super interesting fellow

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite enjoyed this. I used it in tandem with The Illustrated Method of Archimedes by Assis and Magnaghi with my two oldest. Over winter and during the periodic Chicago school closures I ran an "Archimedes Camp" and covered basics in both math and Ancient Greece. (This is building on an Ancient Greece "camp" I ran summer of 2020.) This worked really well for that purpose, although we did not actually get to do any of the exercises as I was unable to get the materials in time. So it goes. They enjoyed themselves, and we all learned something. I kid myself that I've readied them for a life of math and engineering.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a homeschooling history book for my 10 year old son. My son's view of the book and my view of the book were different. My son didn't care too much for the book, mostly because he wanted it to tell a story. He was frustrated and sad it didn't really have much of a story and instead was more a collection of facts and accomplishments of Archimedes. I on the other hand was pleased with the lenght of the chapters and the understandability of the book. I thought it was a good living book to use my son's history lessons.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. What a guy! The illustrations helped with understanding the concepts. The buoyancy thing (Archimedes’s Principle) most intrigued me. The different kinds of levers, his screw that helped with irrigation, and his defense of Syracuse are all really great. It’s such a shame that quite a few of his writings have been lost.

I did quite a bit of research on the Archimedes Palimpsest, as well — some of his writings were found in a medieval manuscript, at right angles to the medieval writing. Fascinating!

[Kaylyn T · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read it for school. It was okay but I absolutely HATE math and science :)

[Alyssa Bohon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant little biography that encompasses math, science, and history. Fascinating and simple enough for a child to follow. The ideal homeschool book.

[Laura (Book Scrounger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of who Archimedes was and the impact of his mind and discoveries. The tone is conversational and enthusiastic, while interspersing the story with descriptions of mathematical and scientific concepts. I pre-read this for my 5th grader, and will probably have him put together the Marbleocity Archimedes screw to go along with this. A couple chapters also list some simple experiments to perform to demonstrate concepts such as buoyancy. I also like that this included the story of King Hiero's crown, as I remember that story from my childhood (I remembered the word "Eureka!" but couldn't remember who said it).

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great homeschooler book by a Christian. I remember reading this as a kid and remembering the ship incident the way she told it. There isn't a message like in her book on the Mystery of the Periodic Table, but she really makes you appreciate this genius who basically was all we had (as far as I know) until Isaac Newton.

[Myla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, it was about Archimedes and his amazing mind, I enjoyed reading about his shenanigans and problems and thought what a character did for him on his tomb was really considerate, I wouldn't have expected that character to do that for Archimedes. It contained how he figured out the crown problem, and what he used to work out problems since papyrus was to expensive and rare and stone tablets were to hard to change.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so impressed by this book. The author does a great job of making sophisticated mathematical and scientific principles easily accessible to a wide audience, including older children.

[Andrea Fisher]

Read this to the kids for their History of Science curriculum. They didn’t love it, but we all learned a lot.

[María Elena Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good and brief introduction about basic concepts of physics related with Archimedes. My son is enjoying it.

[Mihai-Andrei · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,3/5

[Bethanyanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for homeschool

[Jacque · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this aloud for school. CN and I gave it 4 stars. MD and MK gave it 3. CN said it was interesting. MD Sid it was good but hard to understand sometimes. MK said Archimedes was cool, but hard to understand. Archimedes was brilliant and so much of what we learn is based on his studies.

[Kristine Witkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this as a part of my daughter's unit study this year.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading my kids’ school books for myself is giving me a whole new education and I am enjoying it so much!

Archimedes - I can’t say that I knew anything about him, but what. a. guy. Born 300 years before Christ, we would be tempted to think that the whole world was super-primitive, but far from it! The scientific and mathematic discoveries that were happening at universities during this time were cutting edge. Archimedes was at the forefront of it all, preceded only by Euclid. This guy was the OG absent-minded professor, running naked down the street yelling, “Eureka!” because he had an “Aha” moment in the middle of his bath.

I learned a lot!

[Dulci · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a good book, not exactly one that I couldn't put down, but good for the purpose for which it was written. It is part biography, part science, part history. Admittedly, it is incredible to think of all the things that people of that time period didn't know that we take for granted in modern times. So perhaps that's the best part of this book-- to realize how much we owe the gifted and inquisitive people of long ago, like Archimedes.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book about Archimedes, but in some areas it provides so much detail that you wonder which part is actually known and which is just being fleshed out with guesses and other knowledge about that time period. It’s written “down” a bit – probably to younger elementary, although it’s not a picture book. It does provide some fascinating information on the works of Archimedes.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm still amazed by all people like Archimedes took the time to figure out, and reading about geometry still stretches my brain, which is not geometrically inclined. I was very sad to read about how Archimedes died.

2nd Read - It is often hard to read about mathematical concepts, but I still enjoyed this book. It's especially exciting to read about Archimedes' machines that defended Syracuse.

[Karen (Living Unabridged) · Rating 4 out of 5]

2/24: re-read. My boys (10 and 8) LOVED this. They were fascinated by Archimedes and his discoveries.

[Isaac Wahlberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Archimedes and The Door Of Science teach us the importance of insight and discovery in science and problem-solving. Archimedes discovered buoyancy through everyday things; he was taking a bath when he learned what buoyancy was. There are numerous other times when Archimedes discovered revolutionary things through everyday activities, from this, you can see the importance of being creative and staying curious.

When Archimedes used pulleys to move a ginormous ship it was quite impactful in my view of science and physics. It showed me how fun science and physics can be, I know the chances of me being a physicist are low, but my curiosity about science and physics will always be there. My favorite quote from Archimedes was when he would say, ”Eureka!” – Archimedes

This is a must-read. It is a very easy book to read and is short. Even if you have no interest in physics, mechanics, and science in general I’d still tell you to read this book because it is a fun way to learn about a revolutionary man.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous living book! for kids Jeanne Bendick wove together history, geography, math, and science in an engaging story. She immersed readers in the time and place of Archimedes so that they had perspective to undertand his life. Since his first love is math, she devotes several chapters to math which is the fun kind of math: square numbers, cubic numbers, triangular numbers, shapes that can be cut from a cone, the volume of 3D solids, and ways to approximate pi. These are all wonderful topics to explore in math class. Moreover, she makes a lot of complex scientific topics digestible: levers and their classes, work, force, tool, motor, generator, buoyancy, gravity, center of gravity (who wants to make a mobile), and astronomy. His best friend was Eratosthenes and I use his sieve to help middle schoolers find prime numbers and I show high school geometry students how to calculate the circumference of the earth. There is a lot of scope for scientific exploration and notebooking for those who like to think outside of the book.