Originally written as a companion to the PBS series of the same name, Building Big stands on its own quite well — a good thing, because the videos are no longer in production.
If you are familiar with David Macaulay's other books, such as Castle and Cathedral, also reviewed here, Building Big has a similar visual appeal with drawings that delve into the details of the structures in a way that is both fun and informative. I would especially recommend this book to kids (and adults!) ages 10 and up who enjoy building toys such as Legos, K'nex, or wood blocks, as well as to those who are interested in historical structures or how things are made. Younger children who have similar interests will also enjoy the pictures, especially if a parent summarizes the text for them.
The book covers BIG Civil Engineering structures ranging in construction date from ancient Rome through the 20th century. There are sections covering bridges, tunnels, dams, domes, and skyscrapers, with four to ten chapters in each section, each covering the design and construction of an outstanding example of that type of structure. The examples are chronologically sequenced and show important steps in the history of the development of techniques and technology.
The combination of text and illustrations does an admirable job of making learning about building on a large scale enjoyable. Many excellent drawings and diagrams explain how particular structures were built, showing relevant details and the techniques used. They also explore why certain materials and designs were chosen as solutions to the problems specific to the desired function, siting, and other constraints.
Along with hands-on construction toys, books like this one can help kids develop a gut feel for forces, loads, and so forth, which are very important to future work in engineering or construction (even small scale construction like home improvement projects). Dh and I are both engineers, as are two of our sons. We have been surprised that many engineering students today lack that intuitive sense — possibly a consequence of more "virtual" play and less physical play — and would love to see that trend reversed.
