How Science Works: The Facts Visually Explained (DK How Stuff Works)

Love this book series! And I’m growing found of the publisher as well, the writing style is consistent and easy to understand. I will definitely buy more, these make great coffee table books and conversation starters!

The book gives in general terms what's it all about answers, it is not meant for studying certain scientific areas, just informative overviews, I love it.

I love DK, I love this series of visually explained books (food, body, soon psychology) and have or will buy them all. A fantastic primer for children, or refresher for adults, I highly recommend this book and series to all that want to continually learn and grow. A specific example for me would be String Theory. I've heard of it frequently, but never knew just exactly what it was. The book affords me a simple and streamlined answer. Et Voilà!

When I was in grade school, two of my favorite subjects were art and science. As with many parents, mine encouraged my interests whenever they saw a spark. They provided me with an ample array of art supplies, and to foster my love of science, they gifted me a variety of science-related gifts; a chemistry set, an electrical circuit board building kit, and several others. They even helped me start my own small business, which turned out to be quite successful. So when I entered college, I initially majored in business. The curriculum required me to choose elective classes outside my primary field, and naturally, I leaned toward science, taking classes in geology, computer science, and anthropology. Those electives were so engaging that I switched my major to geology, ultimately earning both a BS and an MS in geoscience (which I’m proud to say I funded entirely myself). My studies not only deepened my understanding of Earth’s processes but also fulfilled my creative side through geologic mapping and data visualization. The program included rigorous coursework in physics, chemistry, and mathematics, all of which honed my critical-thinking skills. Fast forward a few decades, and that foundation helped me build a rewarding career, culminating in the role of Principal Geoscientist/Petrophysicist with a major international energy and technology company. Hard work truly pays off, but it starts with supportive parents! Now, I have a young niece and nephew who are being homeschooled (long story). Their parents are doing a wonderful job, but neither has a strong background in science, so I chime in when I can. It was for them, and their kids, that I acquired How Science Works by DK (Dorling Kindersley), now part of Penguin Random House. This is the brand-new second edition, published in August 2025, updated with the latest scientific insights, including content on artificial intelligence. The hardcover arrived in excellent condition and is beautifully bound. The book includes a three-page table of contents and a nine-page index, making topics easy to locate. The material is organized into five major chapters, each packed with colorful, high-quality infographics and concise explanations that make even complex concepts approachable: - Matter (73 pages, 31 subtopics) - Energy and Forces (73 pages, 37 subtopics) - Life (37 pages, 19 subtopics) - Space (29 pages, 15 subtopics) - Earth (23 pages, 12 subtopics) Each subtopic typically spans two pages, blending vivid visuals with clear, engaging text and examples. Subtopics explain the basics first, then build on more complex principles. The layout is excellent, visually stimulating, and easy to follow. It even opens with a great introduction to the scientific method, which sets the stage perfectly for the rest of the material. That said, I do have one major quibble: the “Earth” chapter omits some key subtopics, such as rock formation processes, fossils, and the geological time scale, subjects that are fundamental to understanding our planet’s history. While the omission is disappointing, it doesn’t detract too heavily from the overall value of the book. In summary, How Science Works (Second Edition) isn’t a fully comprehensive textbook, but it’s a wonderful, visually rich introduction to the principles of science; ideal for curious minds, students, and lifelong learners alike. It succeeds brilliantly as a primer on how our world and universe operates, and it’s far more affordable than most traditional science texts. Highly recommended for anyone seeking to understand and appreciate the world around us. Science explains it all, IMHO.

Read it from cover to cover and learned a lot. Great format for quick learning the basics of science. Bought a second copy for my grandson.

My nine-year-old got a huge amount out of this book. I was surprised to find a rather gross error however in the presentation of general relativity. Diagrams appear to suggest that it is possible within a closed box to perform an experiment with light that tells you whether the box is stationary or moving in a straight line with constant speed. This offends against Galilean and special relativity, and can only confuse.

It is very informative with very well designed and relatively easy to understand illustrations. I’ve never seen better thought out illustrations.

I purchased this for my son’s 12th birthday and he couldn’t put it down for several weeks. He and his little brother were actually fighting over it because they both wanted to read it. Beautiful illustrations. Engaging book.

How Science Works is a very informative book. Has a wide variety of science knowledge that is simple to understand. I highly recommend this book.

Not a bad book for beginners, but not really for adults, unless you are a bit light in the nouse department. The book bites off a lot and misses chewing it all.

Excelente

I was looking for a book that would not be too basic and this one was a good choice. My 10 y.o. son was complaining that science books for kids only cover the very basics and do not give much information that he was seeking for, while the real science books are still too much for him. So this one became a great alternative as it covers many subjects and not too basic, but giving more details who are eager to know more. Certainly recommend it!

Well written introduction to scientific phenomena. Visuals aid in understanding and make the book more enjoyable to read.