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Marshall Brain
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The Engineering Book: From the Catapult to the Curiosity Rover, 250 Milestones in the History of Engineering (Union Square & Co. Milestones) Hardcover – May 19, 2015

by Marshall Brain (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 124 ratings

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Engineering is where human knowledge meets real-world problems—and solves them. It's the source of some of our greatest inventions, from the catapult to the jet engine. Marshall Brain, creator of the How Stuff Works series and a professor at the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program at NCSU, provides a detailed look at 250 milestones in the discipline. He covers the various areas, including chemical, aerospace, and computer engineering, from ancient history to the present. The topics include architectural wonders like the Acropolis, the Great Wall of China, and the Eiffel Tower; transportation advances such as the high-speed bullet train; medical innovations, including the artificial heart and kidney dialysis; developments in communications, such as the cell phone; as well as air conditioning, Wi-Fi, the Large Hadron Collider, the self-driving car, and more. 
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  1. Part of series
    Union Square & Co. Milestones
  2. Print length
    528 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Union Square & Co.
  5. Publication date
    May 19, 2015
  6. Dimensions
    7.5 x 2 x 9 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    9781454908098
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1454908098
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The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“[A]n excellent starting point for student researchers and . . . very browsable for the general reader. Visual appeal, easily digested information, and an excellent price point make this entire series highly recommended.” —Booklist

". . . this book is a solid introduction to its topic and can serve to generate interest in the applied sciences and engineering." —Library Journal

About the Author

Marshall Brain is the bestselling author of the How Stuff Works series and a professor at the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program at NCSU. He has appeared on Oprah, Dr. Oz, Good Morning America, CNN, and in many other media outlets to apply his signature approach to unraveling the mysteries of life. Brain was also the host of the National Geographic Channels The Factory Floor TV show. He lives in NC.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1454908092
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Union Square & Co. (May 19, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 528 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781454908098
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1454908098
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.18 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 2 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 124 ratings

About the author

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Marshall Brain

Marshall Brain

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Marshall Brain is most widely known as the founder of HowStuffWorks.com. He is also know as the host of the National Geographic Show "Factory Floor with Marshall Brain", as the author of more than a dozen books, as a TEDx speaker, and as a well-known public personality with the ability to deliver complex material in a way that is easily understood by audiences of all types. He has been featured on everything from CNN and Good Morning America to The Oprah Winfrey Show. His latest book is "The Doomsday Book" from Sterling Publishing.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
124 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this engineering book interesting and educational, with concise content and good value for money. They appreciate the 250 Milestones in the History of Engineering format, and one customer notes that each article is a single page. The book receives positive feedback for its readability, with one customer mentioning it appeals to a wide range of readers. However, the description quality receives negative feedback, with one customer noting minimal information about inventions.

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14 customers mention "Book content"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very interesting, with one customer noting it serves as an excellent source for information about the science of engineering, while another mentions it provides a nice high-level overview.

"...I would assume that this book would be an useful addition to a high school library or a unexpected gift to a curious individual considering a career..." Read more

"Love it. I kept turning the page and after 1 day, I was 108 pages in. Unbelievable...." Read more

"...This is still a good book and worth buying to the interested...." Read more

"I love this book. It helped me to understand the world we live in so much better...." Read more

6 customers mention "Clarity"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book concise and easy to understand.

"...Each article is a page and easy enough for him to try and read without losing interest." Read more

"...I sure did not and the book's approach made it easy for me to understand and appreciate their contributions. The selection..." Read more

"Simple but good content, and various topics..." Read more

"Great photos and text. Clear and concise." Read more

4 customers mention "Value for money"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth every dollar.

"...This is still a good book and worth buying to the interested...." Read more

"...Really not bad for the price. I encourage the author to do a follow up with more detail." Read more

"Brilliant value product" Read more

"Worth every dollar!..." Read more

3 customers mention "Engineering history"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's coverage of engineering history, with one customer highlighting its 250 milestones, while another notes how our world is shaped by these feats.

"...Book: From the Catapult to the Curiosity Rover, 250 Milestones in the History of Engineering (Sterling Milestones)..." Read more

"...Our world is constructed in its engineering feats, and they stem from basic principles built on over time. Awesome book!" Read more

"It's a nice high level overview of some of the great inventions...." Read more

3 customers mention "Page length"3 positive0 negative

Customers like the page length of the book, with one mentioning that each article is a single page and another noting its intriguing format.

"...The format of the book is quite intriguing. There are 250 one page essays accompanied by a full page related drawing or photograph...." Read more

"...However he has dyslexia so getting him to read is a challenge. Each article is a page and easy enough for him to try and read without losing interest." Read more

"This book is a compilation of single-page entries of 250 economically or socially/culturally important engineering products but the descriptions are..." Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, with one mentioning it maintains interest throughout, and another noting it appeals to a wide range of readers.

"...This is a very interesting book that would, I believe, appeal to a wide range of readers...." Read more

"...A wonderful and interesting read." Read more

"...Each article is a page and easy enough for him to try and read without losing interest." Read more

4 customers mention "Description quality"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the descriptions in the book to be of poor quality, with one customer noting that the information about inventions is minimal and another describing it as useless as a coffee table or reference book.

"...It's s little disappointing in that the information describing the inventions are absolutely minimal at best...." Read more

"Some of the articles are a bit lame. Some of the pictures don't really match the articles...." Read more

"...important engineering products but the descriptions are a terrible mix of over-generalization and unexplained techno-jargon, making this book..." Read more

"...A person who is minimally trained in science will find nothing of interest in the book." Read more

nice pictures, concise text, quite a number of omissions
4 out of 5 stars
nice pictures, concise text, quite a number of omissions
it's a very good book for those want to have a overall understand of engineering history. However, it's not acceptable not methioning Kao when talking about fiber optics communication. That man owned Nobel prize for it!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Paul F. Brooks
    5.0 out of 5 stars Learning how mankind has strived over several thousand years to unravel engineering mysteries kept my interest
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    The Engineering Book: From the Catapult to the Curiosity Rover, 250 Milestones in the History of Engineering (Sterling Milestones) [0740 - 03-19-2017 - Science - Engineering]

    "The Engineering Book" is an excellent source for information about the science of engineering as it relates to items we may take for granted but encounter in every day life - bridges - towers - canals - sailing ships - steam engines etc. . The format of the book is quite intriguing. There are 250 one page essays accompanied by a full page related drawing or photograph. The pages follow a chronological history of concepts, discoveries and objects directly related to the use of Engineering skills and concepts.

    I would assume that this book would be an useful addition to a high school library or a unexpected gift to a curious individual considering a career in science.

    This volume is part of a series of similar formatted books. I had previously read the Chemistry and Physics edition and will acquire and read the Astronomy book next.

    This is a stimulating book in many respects. It's not a text book yet assumes a "reasonable" common sense knowledge of how common everyday items work - think a water wheel, an old type clock or a bow and arrow for examples. Helpful but not necessary is a familiarity with the basic terminologies and concepts of engineering.

    This retired reader has no formal engineering training but an abiding curiosity about the subject. Having the time and inclination I read through the entire book several pages per day. This is a very interesting book that would, I believe, appeal to a wide range of readers. I came away with a deep appreciation of this science and the persistence of its practitioners. Learning how mankind has strived over several thousand years to unravel engineering mysteries and convert that knowledge into practical applications was very inspiring.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Just What I Needed
    5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, Chronological, Concise
    Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Love it. I kept turning the page and after 1 day, I was 108 pages in. Unbelievable. Every child in America should read this book so that they can really understand that the things they learn in school does have practical application. It was wonderful seeing the complexity of the engineering evolve over the centuries. A wonderful and interesting read.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • bowonwing
    4.0 out of 5 stars No mention of man's "taming" of fire.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    You can look inside this book and see the contents etc.

    I am going to comment on one thing- man's adaptation and control of fire.
    In this book the word fire is not in the index, which is a shame, and is not mentioned. This is still a good book and worth buying to the interested.

    In the book "Engineering: An Illustrated History from Ancient Craft to Modern Technology (100 Ponderables)" edited by Tom Jackson, on page 2, is "Taming Fire," which is certainly one of the biggest "engineering" events in the history of mankind. This book also has a pull-out "cheat" sheet in back pocket of the book, which is very impressive.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Don C
    5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding the world around me
    Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I love this book. It helped me to understand the world we live in so much better. Our world is constructed in its engineering feats, and they stem from basic principles built on over time. Awesome book!
    Helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gift
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    It was a gift to someone and well received
    Helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars he was very pleased to have gotten it
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I can't speak for myself, as it was a gift to a relative. But, from his reaction in receiving it, and his perusing its pages, he was very pleased to have gotten it, and can't wait to read it. He is currently a student studying engineering at the University, so I'm sure that it will get great use.
    One person found this helpful
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  • laura
    5.0 out of 5 stars One for the kids library!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The kids love it. Very educational and my LEGO making grandson enjoys very much.
    Helpful
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  • ACLavigne
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great for grade school aged kids.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I bought the book for my 12 year old son because of his desire to become and engineer/inventor. However he has dyslexia so getting him to read is a challenge. Each article is a page and easy enough for him to try and read without losing interest.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • David Lewis
    5.0 out of 5 stars All good
    Reviewed in Canada on December 14, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    All Good. Everything as represented in the photo and description. Fast delivery. I will deal with this vendor again.
    Report
  • Michelle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 13, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book for my son and he loves it
    Report
  • MANOJ K
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good!
    Reviewed in India on December 2, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Speaks out of own experiences! Good!
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book
    Reviewed in Canada on April 28, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Good Read.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on January 14, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Cool
    Report