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Archimedes and the Door of Science
Jeanne Bendick, through text and pictures, admirably succeeds in bringing to life the ancient Greek mathematician who enriched mathematics and all branches of science. Against the backdrop of Archimedes' life and culture, the author discusses the man's work, his discoveries and the knowledge later based upon it. The simple, often humorous, illustrations and diagrams greatly enhance the text.
Greece, 200 B.C.
RL5
Of read-aloud interest ages 9-up
Greece, 200 B.C.
RL5
Of read-aloud interest ages 9-up
135 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1962
210 people are currently reading
1,445 people want to read
About the author
Jeanne Bendick
146books22followersJeanne Bendick was born February 25, 1919, in New York City. When she was growing up, her grandfather taught her how to draw. He often took her to the American Museum of Natural History in New York to see the different kinds of art.
In her books, Jeanne Bendick liked to make her drawings very simple. In many of her books, she helps her readers see how science is a part of everyday life. With her words and pictures, she takes things that are complicated and makes them easy to understand.
Jeanne Bendick wrote over 100 books and also wrote filmstrip and television scripts.
In her books, Jeanne Bendick liked to make her drawings very simple. In many of her books, she helps her readers see how science is a part of everyday life. With her words and pictures, she takes things that are complicated and makes them easy to understand.
Jeanne Bendick wrote over 100 books and also wrote filmstrip and television scripts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
June 10, 2018
O nouă etapă în aflarea tainelor celor mai importanți oameni de știință ai omenirii, cartea lui Jeanne Bendick se ocupă de matematicianul, fizicianul, inventatorul Arhimede, grec din Siracusa, Sicilia. Volumul se ocupă și de viața lui, dar ”grosul� este dat de nenumăratele sale teorii și aplicațiile acestora în practică, mai ales în domeniile pe care le utilizăm și noi, după 2000 de ani, la fel de mult: matematica, astronomia, fizica. Aflăm multe lucruri despre pârghii, cerc, numere, sferă sau cilindru, dar și despre felul în care mașinăriile lui au fost utilizate în războaie. Informații multe, dar și ilustrații foarte potrivite.
June 24, 2020
We read this as part of the Beautiful Feet History of Science curriculum. My kids liked it, and we learned a lot about the genius Archimedes. So many math concepts we take for granted, like the fact that numbers go on infinitely, actually had to be discovered.
February 18, 2025
Wow! I have known about this book for years and years but finally got around to taking it off the shelf and reading it straight through. I had assumed it was more biographical, with accounts of the particular discoveries woven into the story. There is some of that, but what surprised me was the amazingly thorough coverage of scientific topics - the simple machines section (ch. 4 & 5) is just pure gold (unadulterated by any silver).
Bendick also does an excellent job of presenting the historical context - she addresses how ideas spread at the time (introducing trade routes and geography) and also discusses the curiosity of the Greeks and the development of philosophy. This is all done in such a simple and straightforward manner that it is perfectly appropriate for young students. In the end we get a very good introduction to: physics (machines, gravity, density), geometry (plane and solid), astronomy, all in relation to Archimedes and the Greek world of the time. I think the book might be most useful in generating an overall curiosity about those fundamental things that could then be used as a springboard for further studies. Even older students could benefit from a review because everything is presented so clearly that the connections and consequences are immediately visible.
Bendick's illustrations are simple and attractive, just perfect for this book.
Bendick also does an excellent job of presenting the historical context - she addresses how ideas spread at the time (introducing trade routes and geography) and also discusses the curiosity of the Greeks and the development of philosophy. This is all done in such a simple and straightforward manner that it is perfectly appropriate for young students. In the end we get a very good introduction to: physics (machines, gravity, density), geometry (plane and solid), astronomy, all in relation to Archimedes and the Greek world of the time. I think the book might be most useful in generating an overall curiosity about those fundamental things that could then be used as a springboard for further studies. Even older students could benefit from a review because everything is presented so clearly that the connections and consequences are immediately visible.
Bendick's illustrations are simple and attractive, just perfect for this book.
October 15, 2020
It was okay I guess
October 15, 2020
It was ok. (It was a school book)
December 5, 2024
AO year 6 pre-read! Very engaging and some hands-on activities scattered throughout!
January 8, 2022
Quite enjoyed this. I used it in tandem with The Illustrated Method of Archimedes by Assis and Magnaghi with my two oldest. Over winter and during the periodic Chicago school closures I ran an "Archimedes Camp" and covered basics in both math and Ancient Greece. (This is building on an Ancient Greece "camp" I ran summer of 2020.) This worked really well for that purpose, although we did not actually get to do any of the exercises as I was unable to get the materials in time. So it goes. They enjoyed themselves, and we all learned something. I kid myself that I've readied them for a life of math and engineering.
November 22, 2017
My 6th grader is reading this this term, it’s a very simple book about most of Archimedes� theories and discoveries and was actually pretty interesting. It also includes several simple experiments you can do to demonstrate some of his discoveries. AmblesideOnline Year 6.
September 21, 2019
I had to read it for school. It was okay but I absolutely HATE math and science :)
November 18, 2022
Great overview of who Archimedes was and the impact of his mind and discoveries. The tone is conversational and enthusiastic, while interspersing the story with descriptions of mathematical and scientific concepts. I pre-read this for my 5th grader, and will probably have him put together the Marbleocity Archimedes screw to go along with this. A couple chapters also list some simple experiments to perform to demonstrate concepts such as buoyancy. I also like that this included the story of King Hiero's crown, as I remember that story from my childhood (I remembered the word "Eureka!" but couldn't remember who said it).
July 1, 2020
I read this book as a homeschooling history book for my 10 year old son. My son's view of the book and my view of the book were different. My son didn't care too much for the book, mostly because he wanted it to tell a story. He was frustrated and sad it didn't really have much of a story and instead was more a collection of facts and accomplishments of Archimedes. I on the other hand was pleased with the lenght of the chapters and the understandability of the book. I thought it was a good living book to use my son's history lessons.
September 6, 2024
Good. What a guy! The illustrations helped with understanding the concepts. The buoyancy thing (Archimedes’s Principle) most intrigued me. The different kinds of levers, his screw that helped with irrigation, and his defense of Syracuse are all really great. It’s such a shame that quite a few of his writings have been lost.
I did quite a bit of research on the Archimedes Palimpsest, as well � some of his writings were found in a medieval manuscript, at right angles to the medieval writing. Fascinating!
I did quite a bit of research on the Archimedes Palimpsest, as well � some of his writings were found in a medieval manuscript, at right angles to the medieval writing. Fascinating!
November 23, 2021
Really great homeschooler book by a Christian. I remember reading this as a kid and remembering the ship incident the way she told it. There isn't a message like in her book on the Mystery of the Periodic Table, but she really makes you appreciate this genius who basically was all we had (as far as I know) until Isaac Newton.
September 14, 2020
I liked this book, it was about Archimedes and his amazing mind, I enjoyed reading about his shenanigans and problems and thought what a character did for him on his tomb was really considerate, I wouldn't have expected that character to do that for Archimedes. It contained how he figured out the crown problem, and what he used to work out problems since papyrus was to expensive and rare and stone tablets were to hard to change.
February 4, 2020
I was so impressed by this book. The author does a great job of making sophisticated mathematical and scientific principles easily accessible to a wide audience, including older children.
March 11, 2022
A brilliant little biography that encompasses math, science, and history. Fascinating and simple enough for a child to follow. The ideal homeschool book.
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May 26, 2023Read this to the kids for their History of Science curriculum. They didn’t love it, but we all learned a lot.
May 28, 2023
This is a good and brief introduction about basic concepts of physics related with Archimedes. My son is enjoying it.
March 4, 2025
Read for homeschool
November 22, 2021
I read this aloud for school. CN and I gave it 4 stars. MD and MK gave it 3. CN said it was interesting. MD Sid it was good but hard to understand sometimes. MK said Archimedes was cool, but hard to understand. Archimedes was brilliant and so much of what we learn is based on his studies.
March 4, 2022
I enjoyed reading this as a part of my daughter's unit study this year.
February 15, 2024
I'm still amazed by all people like Archimedes took the time to figure out, and reading about geometry still stretches my brain, which is not geometrically inclined. I was very sad to read about how Archimedes died.
2nd Read - It is often hard to read about mathematical concepts, but I still enjoyed this book. It's especially exciting to read about Archimedes' machines that defended Syracuse.
2nd Read - It is often hard to read about mathematical concepts, but I still enjoyed this book. It's especially exciting to read about Archimedes' machines that defended Syracuse.
February 7, 2024
2/24: re-read. My boys (10 and 8) LOVED this. They were fascinated by Archimedes and his discoveries.
October 2, 2023
Archimedes and The Door Of Science teach us the importance of insight and discovery in science and problem-solving. Archimedes discovered buoyancy through everyday things; he was taking a bath when he learned what buoyancy was. There are numerous other times when Archimedes discovered revolutionary things through everyday activities, from this, you can see the importance of being creative and staying curious.
When Archimedes used pulleys to move a ginormous ship it was quite impactful in my view of science and physics. It showed me how fun science and physics can be, I know the chances of me being a physicist are low, but my curiosity about science and physics will always be there. My favorite quote from Archimedes was when he would say, ”Eureka!� � Archimedes
This is a must-read. It is a very easy book to read and is short. Even if you have no interest in physics, mechanics, and science in general I’d still tell you to read this book because it is a fun way to learn about a revolutionary man.
When Archimedes used pulleys to move a ginormous ship it was quite impactful in my view of science and physics. It showed me how fun science and physics can be, I know the chances of me being a physicist are low, but my curiosity about science and physics will always be there. My favorite quote from Archimedes was when he would say, ”Eureka!� � Archimedes
This is a must-read. It is a very easy book to read and is short. Even if you have no interest in physics, mechanics, and science in general I’d still tell you to read this book because it is a fun way to learn about a revolutionary man.
June 8, 2024
What a fabulous living book! for kids Jeanne Bendick wove together history, geography, math, and science in an engaging story. She immersed readers in the time and place of Archimedes so that they had perspective to undertand his life. Since his first love is math, she devotes several chapters to math which is the fun kind of math: square numbers, cubic numbers, triangular numbers, shapes that can be cut from a cone, the volume of 3D solids, and ways to approximate pi. These are all wonderful topics to explore in math class. Moreover, she makes a lot of complex scientific topics digestible: levers and their classes, work, force, tool, motor, generator, buoyancy, gravity, center of gravity (who wants to make a mobile), and astronomy. His best friend was Eratosthenes and I use his sieve to help middle schoolers find prime numbers and I show high school geometry students how to calculate the circumference of the earth. There is a lot of scope for scientific exploration and notebooking for those who like to think outside of the book.
September 27, 2019
Are you finding science, mathematics, astronomy, geometry, hydrostatics, buoyancy, levers and pulleys, or the principle of specific gravity a bit unrelatable?
No more, people.
This short biography of Archimedes details in friendly-storyteller format how and why Archimedes was a part of beginning or dramatically furthering the science of all the above. As the author profile states, Jeanne Bendick...has always been distinguished by her remarkable ability to express complex concepts in simple language, and to make difficult subjects interesting and comprehensible to the general public.� Yep. I agree.
The book was interesting, not dry, written in a manner that engages, not patronizes. Thank goodness. As I read I kept thinking that I should start it over and read this aloud to my kids, but I didn’t want to stop. Now I can. :)
No more, people.
This short biography of Archimedes details in friendly-storyteller format how and why Archimedes was a part of beginning or dramatically furthering the science of all the above. As the author profile states, Jeanne Bendick...has always been distinguished by her remarkable ability to express complex concepts in simple language, and to make difficult subjects interesting and comprehensible to the general public.� Yep. I agree.
The book was interesting, not dry, written in a manner that engages, not patronizes. Thank goodness. As I read I kept thinking that I should start it over and read this aloud to my kids, but I didn’t want to stop. Now I can. :)
January 20, 2018
Archimedes and Door of Science is a well-written biography that brought forth the fascinating mind of Archimedes firmly planted in his culture and time period. This book was a delight to read, I thoroughly enjoyed Jeanne Bendick's style and ease of communicating deep or difficult concepts. The amazing discoveries and advancements in Mathematics and science were the highlight of the book for me, and I am very interested in reading more about Archimedes. I also thought the pictures and diagrams added a great value to the book. I am eagerly looking forward to reading through Archimedes and the Door of Science again with my children in a few years.
I read Archimedes and the Door of Science as my "Classic by a Woman Author" for the 2018 Back to the Classics Challenge.
I read Archimedes and the Door of Science as my "Classic by a Woman Author" for the 2018 Back to the Classics Challenge.
January 12, 2022
I am reading this along with my child as part of the Noeo Science Physics II curriculum. It is, unfortunately, a very dry read. There are also some points the author makes with which I take issue and have had to correct for my child, namely the difference between how the Egyptians approached science versus the Greeks and the opinion that the Greeks were the greatest and will forever be the greatest civilization in terms of science and philosophy. We are about 1/2 way through and I think we will abandon it. We've found some excellent videos about Archimedes and we get the idea.
November 12, 2021
Fine, educational and intriguing, but not my cup of tea. Jeanne Bendick, through text and pictures, admirably succeeds in bringing to life the ancient Greek mathematician who enriched mathematics and all branches of science. Against the backdrop of Archimedes' life and culture, the author discusses the man's work, his discoveries and the knowledge later based upon it. The simple, often humorous, illustrations and diagrams greatly enhance the text. Illustrated by the author. For ages 8-11.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
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