Interpreter Of Maladies
Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore

The Way Things Work

As seen on CBS News Sunday Morning.

Explainer-in-Chief David Macaulay updates his worldwide bestseller to capture the latest developments in the technology that most impacts our lives. What possible link could there be between parking meters and meat grinders, jumbo jets and jackhammers, remote control and rockets, electric guitars and egg beaters? Macaulay explains them all!

Famously packed with information on the inner workings of everything from windmills to Wi-Fi, this extraordinary and humorous book both guides readers through the fundamental principles of machines and shows how the developments of the past are building blocks of the world of tomorrow. This sweepingly revised edition embraces recent technological developments, from touchscreens to 3D printers. Each scientific principle is brilliantly explained, with the help of a charming, if rather slow-witted, woolly mammoth.

An illustrated survey of significant inventions closes the book, along with a glossary of technical terms and an index.

More Non-Juvenile, YA Books

  • Harlem's Rattlers and the Great War delves into the history of the 369th Infantry Regiment, highlighting their fierce commitment to American ideals during World War I. This definitive study challenges the myths surrounding the unit, emphasizing their fight for equality amidst rampant racism. Through meticulous research, the authors reveal how these African American soldiers not only battled abroad but also sought to hold America accountable to its democratic promises.
  • How to Know a Person by David Brooks
    High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda Ripley When we are baffled by the insanity of the “other side”—in our politics, at work, or at home—it’s because we aren’t seeing how the conflict itself has taken over.That’s what “high conflict” does. It’s the invisible hand of our time. And it’s different from the useful friction of healthy conflict. That’s good conflict, and it’s a necessary force that pushes us to be better people.High conflict, by contrast, is what happens when discord distills into a good-versus-evil kind of feud, the kind with an us and a them. In this state, the normal rules of engagement no longer apply. The brain behaves differently. We feel increasingly certain of our own superiority and, at the same time, more and more mystified by the other side.New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist Amanda Ripley investigates how good people get captured by high conflict—and how they break free.
  • Housewife by Lisa Selin Davis challenges the outdated notion of the “breadwinner vs. homemaker” divide, arguing that women have been misled about the nature of family dynamics and motherhood. Through historical examples and cultural analysis, Davis advocates for a shift towards interdependence as the true American ideal, calling on all individuals to pursue liberation and the power to choose their own paths.
  • How to Know a Person by David Brooks
    How to Know a Person by David Brooks emphasizes the essential skill of deeply seeing others and making them feel valued and understood. By exploring questions about attention and conversation, Brooks offers insights from psychology, neuroscience, and various disciplines to foster connection in a fragmented society. This book serves as a guide for anyone seeking meaningful relationships and the joy that comes from truly understanding one another.