The LEGO Technic Idea Book: Simple Machines

This book showcases hundreds of creative Technic models you can build by just looking at pictures. Using color-coded pieces and photos from various angles, the book makes it easy to recreate the designs without needing detailed instructions. Each model highlights a unique concept or mechanism to spark ideas for your own creations.The models shown in this book demonstrate how to use gears, shafts, pulleys, turntables, and connectors to build functional devices like cranes, doors, motorized cars, rubber band-powered rockets, drag racers, and even musical instruments (which is quite unique). This book compliments other books by the master builder Isogawa.

I loved this book and it's format. It is just pictures of different simple machines and variations of them. It is a great way to learn simple machines and because it is only pictures with no explanations, figuring out the builds feels like puzzles. With each successful build, you feel a sense of pride and because you actually have to figure it out and not just follow a set of step-by-step instructions you actually learn SO MUCH more.If you don't already have a ton of technic parts then I would recommend buying a few generic technic part kits then you will have everything you need to play with this book. I am 48 years old and this book will keep me busy for days or weeks.

I love that this book doesn't spoon feed instructions step by step, and deliberately includes so many pieces that nobody (except maybe the author) actually has exactly the pieces shown in all of the book's models. The whole point of LEGO is that kids learn to think and design, which is difficult to do when they are trained to precisely follow someone else's ideas every step of the way.These models are IDEAS, to get creative juices flowing and maybe help bridge some areas where children aren't sure how to proceed with their own ideas. There are many resources out there for people too lazy to figure out how to build their own model of "X," but always following others' ideas destroys self confidence. Children only learn that they could "never" design something so complicated, and stop trying. It is much better to look at a great idea and then have to figure out how to make it work (or improve it!) with the materials actually on hand.Much more real world, and trains children to observe, think, and experiment, not just follow rote directions for snapping "tab A into slot B."

Good for moderate to advanced "Master Builders" but a bit too hard for young users to get value from it. perhaps 10 or older could get value from this.

I have this book and the wheeled wonders book, and I find them both equally fascinating and a pleasure to work on the many model ideas in the books. There are a ton of ideas here, so you can work with whatever technic parts you have. I had a few parts from the kit "Lego Crazy Action Contraptions" that I had bought earlier, so I was able to build a few machines from this book. However looking at all the other pictures in this book, I was soon wanting more parts and hit the bricklink site as suggested by the author and publisher in amazon comments. The parts list and links to bricklink catalog put up by the author on his web page was super helpful. I have built several of the models in this book and the wheeled wonders book and they have all been a joy to work on. My 6 year old daughter enjoys building them as well with some guidance. I intend to keep enjoying models from this book for a long time to come, and hopefully this will spark some original ideas of my own. I will be getting the third idea book as well. Thank you, Isogawa san, for an excellent book.

This has to be the most literal interpretation of "simple" machine, in the way the wedge and ramp are defined as "machines": this is far more reference—for gear ratios, positioning, distancing, etc.—and almost all of the "ideas" are just generic and simplistic constructions of what a middle-schooler might come up with using the same parts. I'll be glad to have my used (read: discounted) copy for reference, but hardly a build-inspiring book.

This book, along with the other two in this series, are a wonderful addition to the library of anyone who loves LEGO. One of the simple pleasures of having this book on hand is to glance through the projects and try to reverse engineer Isogawa's design. Even if you do not not have all the parts to build the contraptions, allowing your mind to deconstruct one of these simple machines will not only calm your mind but help you explore other engineering challenges or work-related problems. I keep one on my nightstand (to calm my mind at night) and one in each of my offices (to inspire me and help me figure out problems). This is a wonderful series and I highly recommend this book.

This book maps the brain for the fundamental understanding of mechanics and makes this process fun and rewarding. Parents can empower their children for the future while having fun.