This is a book where the author has demonstrated how things work in a very simple and lucid manner. As vividly explained in the Preface of the book by the author himself :
“…that a much larger public than that with which I have personal acquaintance may be able to satisfy themselves as to the principles underlying many of the mechanisms met with in everyday life.”
The content of the book involves the following topics :
Chapter I.--THE STEAM-ENGINE.
Chapter II.--THE CONVERSION OF HEAT ENERGY
INTO MECHANICAL MOTION.
Chapter III.--THE STEAM TURBINE.
Chapter IV.--THE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.
Chapter V.--ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.
Chapter VI.--THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.
Chapter VII.--WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.
Chapter VIII.--THE TELEPHONE.
Chapter IX.--DYNAMOS AND ELECTRIC MOTORS.
Chapter X.--RAILWAY BRAKES.
Chapter XI.--RAILWAY SIGNALLING.
Chapter XII.--OPTICS.
Chapter XIII.--THE MICROSCOPE, THE TELESCOPE,
AND THE MAGIC-LANTERN.
Chapter XIV.--SOUND AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
Chapter XV.--WIND INSTRUMENTS.
Chapter XVI.--TALKING-MACHINES.
Chapter XVII.--WHY THE WIND BLOWS.
Chapter XVIII.--HYDRAULIC MACHINERY.
Chapter XIX.--HEATING AND LIGHTING.
Chapter XX.--VARIOUS MECHANISMS.
CLOCKS AND WATCHES
SOME NATURAL PHENOMENA
By going through the content you can understand that the author has not left anything untouched. He explained everything that is there at that time in the year of 1908.
Author of the book
Archibald Williams (1871–1934) was an English technical journalist and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Date of Publication
1908
Price :
Rs.917.53(Kindle) and Rs.3050(Paperback)
However, it is available for Free to Paid Members of Hydrogeek
Why Recommended?
Topics
This book covers more than just hydrology and hydraulics. This book covers all the pertinent phenomena, tools, and devices that educated scientists are aware of but that uninformed non-scientists use without understanding how they or these things actually function. Consider steam turbines. The majority of people are aware of what they are, but they are unsure of how exactly these engines operate to empower the operation of trains, automobiles, and airplanes. So this book recommendation is not only for people interested in water but for all those people who are interested, inquisitive, and passionate to know “How exactly the things work?”
Score: 9 out of 10
Price
Rs.716(Paperback) and Rs.708(Kindle)
A little bit on the higher side considering that this book is now freely available through the Gutenberg license. However such free downloads will be difficult to read compared to the comfort one has when reading a book from a paperback.
Score : 6 out of 10
Reviews from various sites :
On Good Read, this book has received 3.9 out of 5 from one reviewer, and on Amazon, the same book has received 4 stars out of 5(from 14 ratings).
Score: 7.5 out of 10
Publisher Reputation
THOMAS NELSON AND SONS of London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and New York is the publisher of the book
Score: 6 out of 10
Author’s Reputation
Archibald Williams (1871–1934). Rating by Good Reads 3.9 from 43 publications.
Score: 6 out of 10
Date of Publication
This book was published in the year 1908. That means it is more than 100 years old.
Score: 10 out of 10
Number of Editions
The year 1908 first edition was published and in the year 2009 Gutenberg Edition was released.
Score: 9 out of 10
Selling Rank
None
Score : 0 out of 10
Total ODM Score: 46330
In conclusion, it can be said that despite its age, this book represents one of the earliest attempts to explain how things operate. Despite being outdated due to its straightforward language, it is simple to read and helpful for anyone with a curious mind.
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The link for downloading the full pdf copy of the book is given below