Fifty Machines That Changed the Course of History

Gr 6–10—Chaline brings a sociologist's eye for detail to this engrossing book. He looks at the inventions that helped shape modern society-the diesel engine, the first passenger airplane, the Walkman, and 47 others-within the context of their respective time periods. For example, he explains how the "Rover" safety bicycle played a role in the women's rights movement of the late 19th century. This entry culminates with early feminist Annie Kopchovsky being humorously labeled "the Lady Gaga of her day" for wearing bloomers while becoming the first woman to cycle around the world. In the entry for the Saturn V rocket, Chaline tells of the meeting between the crew of Apollo 8 and Charles Lindbergh, a fascinating anecdote and prime example of what places this title above the usual lineup of reference books. The author can be forgiven for falling from time to time into confusing technical jargon-these instances, while unfortunate, are rare and mercifully brief. Fifty Machines works fine as a cover-to-cover read, but it is endlessly browsable. From the attractive contents page to the streamlined "Anatomy of…" sections that translate the details of the inner workings of, say, a nuclear reactor for the layperson, the book's strong design enhances its readability. Each machine is given two to eight pages, with close-up photographs-some current, others archival-creating breathing room and stopping the text from overwhelming the layout.—Sam Bloom, Blue Ash Library, Cincinnati, OH