The New Way Things Work, published in 1998, was an updated version of the original 1988 The Way Things Work edition. Although technically not “new” anymore, this wonderfully illustrated encyclopedia of how things work is as captivating now as it was almost two decades ago.
David Macaulay, the best-selling author of many books including Cathedral and Built to Last, explains how pulleys, levers, gears, springs, batteries, electricity, and nuclear power work.
With fun graphics and diagrams he dissects and explains scissors, can openers, pianos, bar codes, self-winding watches, metal detectors, keys, screws, telescopes, airplanes, and hundreds of other things we use every day. Although intended for teens, this is a great reference book for any tech newbie who needs an introduction to the workings of our mechanical world.