Jeanne Bendick begins Archimedes and the Door of Science with an introduction that gives an overview of Archimedes’ contributions to the field of Science, including but not limited to hydrostatics, levers and pulleys, buoyancy, and specific gravity. Then the book gives an overview of the kind of world that Archimedes lived in on the island of Sicily in the third century BCE, explaining the sorts of rituals and lifestyles that characterized the Greeks who lived there. The book summarizes his important discoveries and what led him to them, such as how his discussion with King Hiero about practical applications of mathematics caused him to discover the power of levers and pulleys. Finally, the book explains how these inventions of his allowed him to create machines of war which helped Syracuse to fight off a Roman siege for three years, with Archimedes eventually meeting his end when the city fell. 

Something I love about this book that makes me recommend it to others is its inclusion of anecdotes. For example, the anecdote about Archimedes simply working on his math problem while the Romans had begun to storm his city gives the reader a glimpse into the type of brilliant mind that Archimedes had, allowing us to relate to him on a deeper level and appreciate his contributions to the knowledge of humanity. The fun anecdotes, clever writing, and enjoyable illustrations made this book a satisfying read; I recommend it to young readers ages 8-12 who may be looking for more information about the history of mathematics and science. -Lukas (age 16)