Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

As an engineering student, I was intrigued when I found this book. I was scared it would be too technical or really vague.

It surprised me. The book manages to blend theory and history quite well, giving a lot of definitions and explanations for the technical concepts without being tedious. It has short chapters so it's easy to digest and can be read in the course of weeks with no issue. It has many graphs and flow charts which I found great to illustrate key concepts.

The book explains in simple terms the technology of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I totally recommend it to people that want to understand a little better the things we're surrounded with or just to refresh everyday concepts (like me).

I read it a Kindle Paperwhite which I think is NOT the best option, there's no color or zoom for the pictures. I'd probably recommend a tablet or paperback.

What this is: A great overview of two engineering fields for prospective engineers and interested laymen who have some technical understanding. This would be a great resource for advanced high school seniors considering engineering or undecided college freshmen. The mix is about 70/30 mechanical / electrical engineering.

What this is not: A degree in a book. You will not understand what an engineer understands when you finish the book, nor will you be able to practice engineering. One point off for the title.

Simplistic enough for my struggling readers, yet fascinating enough to keep all of my students interested, regardless of reading level, this series is a great way for students to further investigate potential careers and interests. Will be looking into the rest of this series for the classroom!