I like knowing things. To me, there’s an appeal about knowledge, information, facts but obtaining such knowledge is different story.

I’m not one who likes watching videos about how things are made, scrolling through wikipedia and jumping from article to article till 3AM. I like reading books about such topics, but not extensive, tiring, thick books based on facts and pure research. I prefer fun-sized, important bits of history, maybe nice illustrations, a good font – that’s the way to my heart. And that is why I picked up today’s book.

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Awesome Achievers in Technology
by Alan Katz and Chris Judge (Illustrator)

get it here

BOOK SUMMARY

Part of a super fun middle grade series, Awesome Achievers in Technology puts the spotlight on lesser-known heroes and their contributions in tech.

Everyone has heard the name Steve Jobs, but what about Nolan Bushnell–Jobs’s boss before the invention of Apple, and the founder of the first major video game, Pong? Many of the most relevant figures in tech history have remained in the shadows, but not any longer! From Alan Katz’s new Awesome Achievers series, Awesome Achievers in Technology gives kids a look behind the scenes at 12 lesser-known inventors whose contributions to tech are personally relevant to their lives today. Each figure is given a traditional biography but is also subject to Katz’s unique brand of silliness, with humorous elements such as imagined poems, song lyrics, and diary entries by and about the not-so-famous figure accompanying each bio.

Spot illustrations throughout add to the lighthearted and appreciative humor each figure receives. Reluctant readers and budding tech enthusiasts alike will delight in this imaginative and engaging introduction to a new series of laugh out loud biographies.

BOOK REVIEW

*A copy of this book was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t expect to like this book so much, but Alan Katz is such a great writer! With every turn of a page, you’re informed, entertained and grinning widely. His energy is wonderful!

Katz introduces lesser-known inventors who have greatly impacted our lives in a way that is easy to understand, regardless of age. He doesn’t make you feel stupid, nor shoves facts in your face. Instead, he relates it back to his life in a humorous way and adds his own commentary.

These are 12 important technological contributions in my life that I never stop to ponder about. Some of the things he highlighter were as windshield wipers, safety belts and microwaves – things that are important and used almost every day.

I think it’s wonderful to learn the history of such great contributions that have been overshadowed for decades. I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity to learn, which is something Katz stressed on in this book – always read and never stop learning.

Unfortunately, I received a Kindle copy of this book from NetGalley which damaged my experience with this book. I didn’t have a Kindle, and I’ve always used the app. However, the beautiful illustration didn’t appear most of the time, and there were minor formatting problems appearing throughout the book occasionally. I just wished I could’ve seen the illustrations, even if it was small.