Honest book reviews + free, legal public-domain classics. Join our weekly email →

Why the Wheel Is Round by Steven Vogel – book cover

Why the Wheel Is Round: Muscles, Technology, and How We Make Things Move

By Steven Vogel

Wheels and other mechanisms were, until very recently, powered by the push and pull of the muscles and skeletal systems of humans and other animals. Providing a unique history of the wheel and other rotational devices-- like cranks, cranes, carts,…

Release Date
2018
Length
340 pages
Publisher
University of Chicago Press
Available at:

We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Our Review

Wheels and other mechanisms were, until very recently, powered by the push and pull of the muscles and skeletal systems of humans and other animals. Providing a unique history of the wheel and other rotational devices– like cranks, cranes, carts, and capstans– Vogel examines the contraptions and tricks we have devised in order to more efficiently move– and move through– the physical world. In doing so, he offers a captivating exploration of our common technological heritage based on the simple concept of rotation.