About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when they have a reluctant reader who is bored by standard textbooks but fascinated by the strange, the dark, and the absurdly true. It is perfect for children who love to ask what if and why, specifically those with a dark sense of humor or a burgeoning interest in engineering and history. The book turns the history of science into a high energy investigation of failure and unintended consequences. While the tone is comedic and irreverent, the book explores the very real curiosity and trial and error that drive human progress. It features gruesome descriptions of historical inventions that failed, sometimes with fatal results for their creators. Parents should be aware that the book leans into the squishy and grosser side of history, making it ideal for 8 to 12 year olds who enjoy the Horrible Histories style of learning through shock and laughter.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
1. DISTRESS: The book contains graphic descriptions and illustrations of historical execution methods (like the guillotine) and lethal accidents involving inventors. While presented in a cartoony, irreverent style, sensitive children might be bothered by the concept of death as a punchline. 2. CONVERSATION: Parents should be prepared to discuss the ethics of invention and the reality of historical punishments. There is a section on the Brazen Bull, an ancient torture device; parents might need to provide context on why such things existed in history.
Ideal Reader
A 10-year-old who finds traditional science books dry and prefers the gross-out humor of Captain Underpants but is ready for real-world historical facts.
Parent Prep
This book can be read cold, but parents may want to skim the chapter on murderous machines to ensure the level of dark humor is appropriate for their specific child. A child asking, "Did the man who invented the guillotine really get his head chopped off?"
Age Experience
Younger readers (8-9) will focus on the funny cartoons and gross-out facts. Older readers (10-12) will begin to appreciate the irony of the failed engineering and the historical context of the various eras mentioned.
What Makes It Special
Unlike standard STEM books that celebrate success, this book celebrates the messy, often fatal, process of trial and error that defines human history.
Read plot summary
Part of the Horrible Science series, this title explores the history of engineering and invention through the lens of failure, danger, and the macabre. It covers everything from ancient siege engines to bizarre Victorian gadgets and modern mistakes. The book uses a mix of fact files, comic strips, and quizzes to keep the pace fast and the tone light despite the darker subject matter.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
If you were an inventor, how would you test your machine to make sure it was safe before trying it yourself?
2
Why do you think people in the past created such strange or dangerous inventions? Was it for science, or something else?
3
Which invention in the book did you think was the most 'evil,' and why do you think the author chose that word?
4
The book talks about inventions that backfired. Can you think of a modern invention that might have 'squishy bits' or unintended consequences?
