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Watt's Perfect Engine: Steam and the Age of Invention
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6 new or used available from £6.99
Average customer review:
Product Description
James Watt is synonymous with the steam-engine, Promethean symbol of the Industrial Revolution. But what motivated him to re-invent steam? What convinced him that a simple idea - to give the steam-engine a separate condenser. A fascinating story of scientific and social upheaval in an age of radical change.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #426982 in Books
- Published on: 2002-11-07
- Original language: English
- Binding: Hardcover
- 176 pages
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
BEN MARSDEN is a lecturer in cultural history at the University of Aberdeen. He read maths at Cambridge, music in London, and history of science at Kent. He normally writes about engines that fail, prefers to study engineers who teach, and sometimes wastes time comparing the connections between music and science in history. He owns three kettles but is still looking for inspiration.
Customer Reviews
Fascinating History
The author gives an interesting account of Watt's life and struggles. Perhaps the most fascinating part is the way that Watt went about his business in a most scientific way - not merely a process of trial and error.
This book does not fall into the trap of hero-worshipping the engineering genius of Watt solely, but also examines the negative side of his character.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in the history of engineering. The subject is especially engaging because the steam engine was the pivotal invention of the industrial revolution.
If I were to offer criticism, it is not really of the author: The small format of the book does not lend itself to showing detailed diagrams, and some of the drawings were too small to view properly. Proper diagrams and photographs would have amplified the text considerably with a technical subject such as this. Hence 4 stars and not 5.
