Jan Adkins Books
Jan Adkins is an author and illustrator whose works delve into history, technology, and a wide array of other subjects. Renowned for his ability to make complex topics accessible and engaging, Adkins crafts narratives that are both informative and captivating. His distinctive style is marked by meticulous detail and clear, often hand-drawn illustrations that enhance the textual content. Through his books, Adkins seeks to ignite curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of the world.
The almost forgotten craft of shifting large weights with brains instead of engines. Beginning with practical rules for moving like Get the Ming vase out of the Room. All the way out, and What goes up comes down heavier. This is a fascinating description of applied physics in the real world. If you move engine blocks, concrete mooring sinkers, or nothing heavier than this book from table to lap, you'll enjoy the encouraging narrative and the precise drawings. Not everyone moves coffins with marbles or sheet steel with baseballs, but you might very well find an idea to help you move Uncle Harry's monstrous bathtub out of the basement, or a reluctant oak stump out of the yard.
Focusing on the life of an influential architect, this biography delves into the complexities of a genius who prioritized his creative vision over financial constraints and client expectations. Frank Lloyd Wright's innovative approach revolutionized American architecture, moving away from Victorian styles to develop the Prairie Style and other significant structures like hotels and churches. Jan Adkins captures Wright's relentless creativity and unique personality, offering insights that will reshape readers' understanding of architecture and its impact on modern living.
Getting Started in Boats: Volume 1
- 170 pages
- 6 hours of reading
Bound set of Getting Started in Boats, from WoodenBoat magazine, issues 1-20. Each issue is 8 pages, with topics like Building the Lumberyard Skiff, to Building the Peace Canoe, Flat bottomed skiffs, strip planking, small boat shapes, annual painting, wood selection, home boatshops, reading boat plans, and more.
Bertha Takes A Drive
- 32 pages
- 2 hours of reading
In this nonfiction joyride, Bertha Benz and her sons drive across Germany in the world's first automobile. It's 1888 and Bertha Benz's husband, Karl, has invented the prototype Benz motorwagen. But the German government declares the vehicle illegal, and the church calls it the devil's work. Unbeknownst to her husband, Bertha steals away with her two sons and drives nearly one hundred miles to prove just how amazing the motorwagen is. Bertha's mechanical savvy gets the boys to Grandma's house safely, and the remarkable mother/son road trip reduces global concern about moving vehicles.