Books
My Adult Books
Interested in how the world works? The science and engineering of our stuff? The people behind the inventions, and the history of how they came to be? These books are for you...
NUTS & BOLTS
In Nuts and Bolts, award-winning engineer and broadcaster Roma Agrawal deconstructs our most complex feats of engineering into seven fundamental inventions: the nail, spring, wheel, lens, magnet, string and pump. Each of these objects is itself a wonder of design, the result of many iterations and refinements. Together, they have enabled humanity to see the invisible, build the spectacular, communicate across vast distances, and even escape our planet.
Hodder Paperback
"With refreshing simplicity, Agrawal delivers a masterclass in providing technical content alongside historical context, uncovering hidden figures, and making innovation come to life. Her honesty, bravery and passion are evident on every page. "
BUILT
Winner of AAAS/Subaru Science Book of the Year. Shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize.
In BUILT, structural engineer Roma Agrawal takes a unique look at how construction has evolved from the mud huts of our ancestors to towers of steel that reach into the sky. She unearths how humans have tunnelled through kilometres of solid mountain, bridged the widest and deepest of rivers, and tamed Nature’s precious – and elusive – water resources. She tells vivid tales of the pioneers behind landmark builds such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the Burj Khalifa, and examines, from an engineering perspective, tragedies like the collapse of the Twin Towers. She reveals how she designs a building so it will stand strong – even in the face of gales, fire, earthquakes and explosions.
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
"The Shard engineer has long been fascinated by the technical ingenuity of design. Now she wants to help us see the built environment with similar wonder"
- The Observer
My Children's Books!
Typical age 7+
HOW TO BUILD A CHOCOLATE BRIDGE
Can you make a skyscraper out of pasta? How about a rocket from meringue? As an engineer and a BIG fan of chocolate, Roma herself has often wondered whether a bridge could be made out of chocolate. This might sound impossible (and delicious), but you don't know until you try...
With seven interactive building projects, kids will find out what is possible, while learning about the science behind awe-inspiring inventions. They will also get to meet some of the world's most innovative scientists, who dare to experiment with wacky materials to create something great.
Laurence King Publishing
"Not only is Roma Agrawal extremely clever and a wonderfully engaging writer, she is a brilliant advocate for her profession"
HOW WAS THAT BUILT?
Shortlisted for the Royal Society Young People's Book Prize 2022
Best-seller on Bookshop.org
The world is full of incredible structures. Skyscrapers soaring up to the clouds, bridges reaching across the widest, deepest rivers, tunnels boring deep into the earth … But have you ever stopped to wonder how they were built?
Bloomsbury Childrens Books
SEVEN SMALL INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
Travel through centuries of history, through ancient Egypt, along the Silk Road, across the high seas and even into space, and discover how each of these seven small inventions came to be, how they work and how they changed the world forever.
Find out how it's thanks to the potter's wheel that the International Space Station exists, and how the same nails that built pirate ships hold together the tallest buildings in the world.
Laurence King Publishing