I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book.I found this very well written and couldn't put it down until finished

I would like to thank the publisher and the authors for providing a digital advanced review copy of this book.

"Hidden Wonders" is an excellent title for this book. The authors provide fascinating details about the physics, math, and science behind the everyday miracles that we tend to take for granted. For example, although it is commonly known that spider silk is one of the strongest materials by weight, I never knew that spider silk has built in nodules that act like shock absorbers to increase the length of the thread when it is under stress. I also did not realize that increasing the flexibility of the poles used by Olympic pole vaulters contributed to adding over a meter to the height of modern records compared to the 1800's. I am sure that there are anecdotes and tidbits that will appeal to renaissance women and men throughout the world. The illustrations absolutely help the descriptions come alive.

Although this is not a travel book, the decidedly French-centric history and information in this book have me drooling to plan another trip to France (and neighboring countries) after we crawl out from under the Covid pandemic to a world where international travel is safe and commonplace again.

Because I really did like this book, I have two suggestions. (1) Since on page 150 the authors brought up the topic of how many times it is possible to fold a piece of paper, and since the English translation of this book is being published by MIT Press, it seems only fair that they describe how students were able to use 54,000 feet of toilet paper in MIT's "Infinite Corridor" to perform an amazing 13 folds back in 2011. And (2) since the book already has an excellent glossary, I would propose including the following words that sent me to my dictionary: biface, achene, samara, and craquelure. (Wow! It makes me feel better to see that the spell checker I am using at the moment is also unfamiliar with three of these words!)

Again, many thanks to the authors, translator, and publisher for bringing these "Hidden Wonders" to the world.

I love the interesting history in Hidden Wonders. So much information I didn't know. The photos are just lovely! I really like the fact that there are simple experiments throughout the book to try at home. They really emphasize the points made in that particular section in a simple, tangible way.

Great great book--highly recommend!

An absolutely delightful work, deserving of a wide and diverse readership. Working scientists will likely bemoan the lack of quantitative treatment, but only the profoundly ungracious will fail to appreciate the intended audience and I suspect most scientists will encounter one or more hidden wonders that their curiosity had yet to touch upon. The primary audience, though, will surely be the literate, thinking public, which will find most of the material novel and the explanations satisfying. The greatest value of the work, though, may come from its use by school teachers and/or engaged parents, for whom the experiments (requiring only household items) might well spawn new scientists and engineers.

From stone arches and wood beams with weight-bearing virtues to overturned hull homes near Calais to adding strength to a plain sheet of paper (my young nephews happily did this experiment!) to the curvatures of soap film to tension in bubbles (and breaking it)...this breathtaking and supremely fascinating book turns the ordinary into extraordinary. These are phenomena one may not think about but you will definitely see things differently after reading this book (take a close, close look at spider webs and bird nests, try the simple directory experiment). Most of these ideas from nature are used in architecture and structure and incorporated into art (pine cones)

Some of my favourite eye-opening photographs include the boundary bubbles, mother-of-pearl, grains of sand, kaolinite platelets, Venus flower skeleton, fern sporangium and dried corn flour. I had not heard of catenaries but now will remember them...and will hopefully use the word to impress! As a traveler who lives part time in Europe stone arches and vaults have always fascinated me structurally and photographically. I do embroidery so was happy to see a discussion on thread and folds of fabric.

This utterly enthralling book exceeds my expectations. No exaggerating...after reading it I feel smarter as it is so informative. The experiments would be (are - I've done a few!) great for adults and kids. There are more topics in here than you would expect. Not only this but the photography is marvelous! Anyone scientifically minded or those who simply wish to learn more about our amazing nature really should read this. Actually, it's more than reading. It's mind bending.

My sincere thank you to MIT Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this spellbinding book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.

Very good. This covers large and tiny objects, and everything in between. It includes excellent photography and graphics along with interesting and clear info to explain the history and concepts used to create the man-made and natural objects. Quite interesting and friendly to non-scientific minded. Recommended.

I really appreciate the ARC for review!!