Book Review: “101 Things That Go Fast: Planes, Trains and Automobiles You Can Make and Ride”

Disclosure: I received this product in exchange for my honest opinion.

Popular Mechanics 101 Things That Go Fast: Planes, Trains and Automobiles You can Make and Ride

By Popular Mechanics
208 Pages (Hardcover)
Date Published: October 1, 2013

These 101 classic projects from the pages of Popular Mechanics will bring out the kid in everyone! Go full speed ahead with these wonderful things to build, from a Motor Car, Motorcycle-powered Catamaran, and Ferris Wheel to a Spring-propelled Toy Seam Engine and an entire Electric-Locomotive Model and Track System. You’ll find Aquatic Pursuits; Winter Sports; and Backyard Shenanigans; as well as great Go-Go Gadgets and Games. And now the beautiful vintage illustrations that readers love appear in glorious full color, showcased in an oversize hardcover.

This book brings back memories for me of flipping through the Popular Mechanics books I saw at my great grandmas house. There are so many silly and amazing ideas in there, many that in today’s world are pretty funny to see. Like a Sail for a Boy’s Wagon or a Miniature Fighting Tank that Hurdles Trenches. There are not full directions to actually build, but rather illustrations of plans and the story behind the idea. I suppose you could kinda follow the illustrations if your handy but I think this book is more so to bring back memories or reminisce about how people used to actually build cool stuff, where nowadays most people just go buy what they need.