THE BOOK OF TERRIFYINGLY AWESOME TECHNOLOGY

An overview of technologies—including holograms, GPS, electric cars, and more—offering applications and experiments.

Before each of the 26 topical chapters culminates in an experiment, it follows a structure that gives an overview of the technology, tells how it is improving life, its related applications, and the “terrifying” potentials should the technology go bad or fall into the wrong hands. The text nicely contextualizes the technologies, both explaining the science and connecting it to the real world (especially in technology’s potential for solving looming global problems). The experiments introduce readers to some of the simplest principles of the technology at play and are well varied. Some involve building, some are manual replications of the base idea of the tech, some can be done solo while others need friends (and one in particular is designed for large groups and has classroom potential), and only a few need specialized materials. The cautionary-tale segments range from science-fiction story prompts to current, real-world issues. Anecdotal sidebars and panels add humor, trivia, and texture. The illustrations include black-and-white photography and two-color cartoons that serve to illustrate the experiments and offer lighthearted amusement (such as villainous household appliances). While final art was unseen, the cartoon people, with black line art and page-white skin, have a good gender balance.

Kids will have fun while building a solid foundation in how technologies work.