Reviews

Nuts and Bolts: Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World (in a Big Way) by Roma Agrawal

ruthyalice's review against another edition

informative inspiring medium-paced

4.5

koreykit's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

5.0

fkshg8465's review against another edition

informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

Not really sure why average ratings are so low. I loved this book. It was well researched, fun to read, and highly informative. It also focused on manned I never learned in school - inventions and applications created and innovated by BIPoC and women from all over the world. This is a book I’d want all my kids to read too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Genocide, Gun violence, Infertility, Medical content, Slavery, War, Sexism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Violence, and Xenophobia

rj6578's review against another edition

informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

andrea_author's review against another edition

5.0

This book explores how seven seemingly simple elements—nail, wheel, spring, lens, magnet, string, and pump—underpin engineering innovations throughout history. Diverse examples show how these building blocks enable complex inventions that revolutionize life. The book reveals the outsized impact of elementary components on the advancement of engineering.

This book is brilliant and fun. It includes some personal anecdotes that humanize the inventions. It's fascinating to see how simple objects evolved into the advanced technology of the modern world. The narration by the author was well done.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

madhamster's review against another edition

5.0

Interesting, personal, and a surprisingly emotional read.

inamerata's review against another edition

4.0

An interesting and accessible look at some building blocks of human society. Agrawal blends engineering, history, and social analysis, and uses a great variety of examples to show how each mechanic works. I appreciated how inclusive her work was, from historical examples to contemporary uses to future possibilities. 

jenly's review against another edition

I'm listening to the audiobook and unfortunately the narration just can't pull me in to the book.

abra3326's review against another edition

funny informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

merryberries's review against another edition

4.0

(4/5 stars) This book scratched an itch in my engineering brain! Renaissance scientists defined six simple machines that were foundational to progress in the world - the lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge, and screw. Agrawal in her survey contends that seven small inventions - the nail, wheel, spring, magnet, lens, string and pump - now make up the foundation of our modern world. I found this book really engaging, and Agrawal uses her expertise to tie things together in an accessible way. Definitely would recommend this if you've ever gone down a YouTube rabbit hole watching How It's Made videos.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is out today (11/7/23)!