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Sunday, October 10, 2010

Book Review - The LEGO Technic Idea Book

About the Book
A picture is worth a thousand words, or in the case of The LEGO Technic Idea Books, a thousand ideas. Just as an artist might graze among the masterpieces in a museum while contemplating his or her next work, LEGO builders will draw inspiration from this fascinating collection of photographs of LEGO Technic models where the pictures are the building instructions and every model is like a building block for that next, great project.


The three volumes in the The LEGO Technic Idea Book series—Simple Machines, Wheeled Wonders, and Fantastic Contraptions—are filled with photos of Yoshihito Isogawa's unique models, each one designed to fire the imaginations of LEGO builders young and old. The models are easy to replicate based on their pictures alone. Colors distinguish each part, showing how they're assembled, and each model illustrates a different principle, concept, or mechanism that will inspire readers' own original creations.

"The first thing readers will notice in The LEGO Technic Idea Books is that there's almost no text; this collection of photos is designed to teach through visuals alone," said No Starch Press Founder Bill Pollock. "By not telling people what to look for in each photo, each viewer takes away something different. After all, LEGO building is about using one's imagination."

The photos in each volume showcase a wide variety of model-building ideas and teach various construction concepts. For example, in volume 1, Simple Machines (ISBN 9781593272777), readers learn to:
  • Use basic configurations of gears, shafts, pulleys, turntables, and connectors
  • Create cranes, working doors and latches, motorized cars, a rocket launcher, a drag racer, and musical instruments
Then, in volume 2, Wheeled Wonders (ISBN 9781593272784), readers learn to:
  • Make models that spin or move things, drag race, haul heavy gear, and rebound off walls
  • Build differential gears, implement steering and suspension, and design clutch and transmission systems
And finally, in volume 3, Fantastic Contraptions (ISBN 9781593272791), readers learn to:
  • Build working catapults, crawling spiders, bi-pedal walkers, and gadgets powered by fans, propellers, springs, magnets, and vibration
  • Construct models that move and incorporate lights, pneumatics, and solar panels
LEGO builders who browse The LEGO Technic Idea Books will quickly see that with a little imagination, the possibilities are truly endless.

About the Author

Yoshihito Isogawa of Tokyo, Japan, is a technical writer and LEGO luminary. In addition to running Isogawa Studio, Inc., he regularly holds LEGO workshops, lectures at schools and science museums, and creates LEGO models for events and exhibitions. He is the author of the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Orange Book, Making Machines with Bricks, and several other Japanese-language LEGO titles. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Engineering at Tokyo University of Science.

My Take on the Book
This book provided an amazing collection of contraptions for LEGOs. As a person who loves Legos and what you can create and make with them. I loved the idea of this book and it opened my eyes to the array of creations that are possible. What I really liked about the book was that there was no words, but you could easily follow each image and step in creating each new LEGO contraption. Each page had beautiful full color images and took you one step at a time to creating a masterpiece.

If you are a fan of LEGOs, you will love this book. Check it out today!

If this book sounds like one that you would like in your own library you can find it on Amazon!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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