NUTS AND BOLTS Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World (in a Big Way)

Structural engineer Roma Agrawal cheerfully tells listeners that she was the type of kid who snapped crayons to see their insides. Narrating in an accent that blends India and Britain, she good-humoredly shows listeners she still is that kid. Her joviality and personal touches make her stories of important inventions relatable. She slips in puns and jokes, and makes light of her own efforts at the potter's wheel. Agrawal also reminds listeners of makers' diversity. For example, making nails was once a woman's job, and Mahatma Gandhi made his own clothes to protest a British ban on spinning wheels. Although she discusses her experience with breast-milk pumps, most topics are everyday science that even kids will be familiar with. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2024]