Books like The Way Things Work

The Way Things Work by David Macaulay reads as informative, curious. These 12 books share its genome — matched by how they actually read, not just their shelf label.

The evolution of useful things

Henry Petroski · 1992

Both explore engineering & innovation

69% genome match

College physics

Randall Dewey Knight · 2006

Both explore mechanics

67% genome match

My inventions

Nikola Tesla · 1977

Both explore invention & innovation

70% genome match

Stuff Matters

Mark Miodownik · 2013

Both explore innovation & engineering

66% genome match

University physics

Francis Weston Sears · 1949

Both explore mechanics

62% genome match

The Victorian Internet

Tom Standage · 1998

Both explore innovation

64% genome match

Physics for scientists and engineers

Paul A. Tipler · 1990

Same nonfiction feel

58% genome match

Fundamentals Of Electricity And Magnetism

McGraw-Hill · 2001

Same nonfiction feel

59% genome match

The Alchemy of Air

Thomas Hager · 2008

Both explore innovation

61% genome match

Relativity Visualized

Lewis C. Epstein · 1984

Same nonfiction feel

61% genome match

An introduction to quantum physics

A. P. French · 1978

Same nonfiction feel

59% genome match

The map that changed the world

Simon Winchester · 2001

Same nonfiction feel

60% genome match