Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by drewzero1 1960 days ago
Did you have The Way Things Work or The New Way Things Work? I had the latter around the same time. I thought the extended computer section (Bill's Gates!) was very helpful. I still really like the visual in which the image of a mammoth is turned into a series of pumpkin/no pumpkin signals being launched through the air, then becomes a picture of a mammoth on the other side of the field. I think it got a bit too technical for me when it started showing how transistors are constructed-- I guess I should've stuck with the pumpkins.

Now I have both editions and have looked through them side-by-side. It's a bit unfortunate that some pages were dropped to make room for the expanded digital section in the newer edition, but well worth the trade-off for more/better explanations in the digital realm.

1 comments

I'm not sure. Possibly both?

Just took a look over my bookshelf, but they haven't made it with me through moves.

I do still have Incredible Cross-Sections. That was another of my favorites to flip through. It looks like there are reprints and new versions. Would definitely recommend for kids.

https://www.amazon.com/Stephen-Biestys-Incredible-Cross-Sect...