Ed Sobey – författare

Are you considering buying an electric vehicle? All of us are witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime transformation. For over one hundred years, gasoline and diesel fuels have powered ground transportation throughout the world. Now that is changing, and 2023 is the year when most people will recognize that change is happening. This book is a comprehensive, easy-to-understand overview of the passenger EV universe including guides for buying and owning an electric car. The authors discuss choosing, owning and driving an electric car, then explain the features, advantages, benefits and limitations of over 45 EV models including pickup trucks, SUVs, and sedans.

"If you have to have a car, make it an electric car. As this book makes clear, they are better than old-fashion vehicles in every way."

-Bill McKibben, American environmentalist and climate change authority; co-founded 350.org and spearheaded the fossil fuel divestment campaign resulting in endowments worth more than $15 trillion stepping back from oil, gas and coal.

"Thankfully, now that the electric vehicle R&D "dark ages" are coming to an end and automakers around the world are charging up their EV programs, there''s no doubt that we''re about to see massive, valuable change in our transportation landscape."

-Sebastian Blanco, one of America''s leading electric car journalists who has been writing about EVs since 2006.

If you''ve ever wondered how a microwave heats food, or why aluminum foil is shiny on one side and dull on the other, or whether it is better to use cold or hot water in a garbage disposal, you should read The Way Kitchens Work. Modern kitchens are hi-tech marvels, with more machinery than any other room in the house. Each of the 50+ entries includes its history, interesting trivia, and a discussion of the technology involved.

            Readers will also enjoy reviewing the utensils'' and appliances'' original patent blueprints, as well as photos of the “guts” of these culinary tools. The author even includes odd side stories, such as how the waffle iron played a role in the founding of Nike, how you can reset a turkey timer, and why socialite Josephine Cochran really invented the dishwasher in 1886--it wasn''t because she wanted to ease the burden of her servants, but because she wanted a device that would avoid the unsightly chips associated with hand washing.

            And finally, for those whose stovetop skills are still in development, Sobey provides information on the invention and use of the smoke detector and hand-held fire extinguisher.

If you''ve ever wondered how an Etch A Sketch writes on its gray screen, or why a boomerang comes back, or how an R/C car responds to a radio controller, now you''ll have your answers. The Way Toys Work explains the technology, history, and trivia behind 50 popular toys, with patent blueprints and photos of the “guts” of devices including:

* Kaleidoscope        * Magna Doodle          * Slinky

* Nintendo               * Super Soaker            * Big Mouth Billy Bass

* Rubik''s Cube        * Silly Putty                  * Video Game Light Gun

* Furby                    * Dunking Bird             * View-Master

* Yo-Yo                  * Push ''n'' Go Car        * Wiffle Ball

* Gyroscope            * Operation                  * Hula Hoop

You''ll also find pointers on how to build your own versions using recycled materials and a little ingenuity, experiments that can be done with certain toys, and tips on reverse engineering old toys to get a better look at their interior mechanics. The only thing you won''t learn is how the Magic 8 Ball is able to predict the future--some things are best left a mystery.

There''s more than one way to power a toy boat. Electric motors, balloons, gears, water jets, belt drives, chemical reactions, steam, and even gravity can be used to propel a small ship across a pool. Also, the boats'' propellers and paddles can be side-mounted or at the stern, or even sit above the waterline, like a fan-powered swamp boat. The Motorboat Book will show children how to build more than 20 different models through step-by-step instructions with clear photos. And if they''d rather travel under the water than over it, the book has 6 different submarine projects.

In addition to the boatbuilding activities, author Ed Sobey includes instructions on how to build an “ocean” to test the boats, as well as accessories such as four different water pumps, waterproof battery and motor cases, and a working foghorn. Most of the boats are built from recycled and easy-to-find materials, but an appendix lists local and online sources for wire, plastic propellers, small motors, and more. Educators will appreciate the Meeting Science Standards summary at the end of the book.