'The Ancient Engineers' is a good read. L. Sprague de Camp is always a good read. I rate this book lower than I normally would, though, because I think it's incomplete. We get pictures of this, that, or another invention, we get descriptions of what was built and how and why, but we don't get any of the mathematics.

Ancient engineers didn't have Arabic numerals. They didn't have algebra or calculus. Still, some of their calculations must be preserved somewhere. I'd like to see an explanation and a demonstration of how the Romans, for example, designed a piece of machinery using Roman numerals and simple arithmetic to design structures that today would require calculus.

I don't see how one can discuss engineering of any sort without at least touching on the subject of mathematics, so I docked the author a half-star for that omission. ( )

Excellent introduction to ancient engineering. After reading this, you will be able to tackle the real primary sources (Hero of Alexandria, Vitruvius, Philon of Byzantium (if you speak French). I am not really interested in the Egyptians, but there is good coverage of the Greeks & Romans.

One stunning mistake is the complete elision of the Arab mechanics. Although al-Jaziri's "Book of Ingenious Mechanical Devices" or the works of the Banu Musa were not tranlated into English yet, surely he must have heard of them? Anyway, still an excellent introduction. Just be sure to read a bit further.

Two excellent trivia items:

1. This book was the favourite of the Unabomber.
2. De Camp was a friend of Robert E. Howard, the creator of Conan, and completed many Conan stories left uncompleted after Howard's suicide, and acted as advisor on the Conan movies.

A good, fun read about the hows and whys of ancient technology. ( )

Good popular account of how anything and everything from irrigation systems to pyramids got built in the eons before the the steam engine. You can acccomplish a great deal with organized muscles and leverage!

Very interesting book, but would be much nicer with quality illustrations. ( )