[PostOnce]

I know of a book that similarly impressed me, though I've not yet seen the one you refer to, although it won't be quite so deep:

The reprinted-under-many names book from Germany in the 70s? called variously:

"How Things Work", "The Way Things Work", and more

and published by Simon & Schuster, Paladin Press, and others

Searching for C Van Amerongen will bring it up, although I think it is by multiple authors.

https://archive.org/search.php?query=C%20Van%20Amerongen

I like it so much I have many copies of it both soft and hardcover.

[greenpresident]

„Wie funktioniert das?“ and it’s various versions are amazing books for teenagers interested in tinkering too.

[PostOnce]

Yes! That's it. That's the same book, that's the German name (which I couldn't remember). I know there are at least 2 of them, maybe more, and they are wonderful, it's so concise, they don't bullshit around at all. Hundreds of machines (and other things?) all explained with shocking clarity.

How did punch card readers work before optical reading was possible? They've got you covered. Want to know how tank gun stabilization works? Also covered. It really has everything.

[mszcz]

Oh, I had a different book by that name How Things Work by David Macaulay. I loved it as a kid and a couple of years ago bought two used versions so that my son can experience it ;)

[dTal]

Macaulay's book was titled "The Way Things Work". I too loved it as a kid - what an incredible piece of art. I firmly believe every child should have a copy. One wonders how many STEM careers it provoked.

Your name confusion is understandable, as "How Things Work" was a popular book title - I had at least two books by that name concurrently with my ownership with "The Way Things Work", and I too was always getting them confused.

[mszcz]

Yeah, you're right. I agree about the art, it was wonderful. I recall being mesmerized by the mammoths :P