Reviews:
-[W]hat is included is unique in the attention they draw to the vision, the details of construction, and the historical ramifications of these audacious, outrageous, and ultimately successful giant engineering feats.
—Historical Studies in the Physical and Biological Sciences
-Building the World has a unique approach to describing forty-one major projects undertaken by mankind throughout history....Building the World was meant to provide a greater understanding of the role that such structures have played not just in the transformation of the physical world, but in the growth and development of societies and cultures (xi). The editors have met this goal, and have done so for audiences ranging from high school students to professionals and from artists to diplomats. The encyclopedia reads easily and is suitable for public and academic libraries alike, including technical libraries.
—Reference & User Services Quarterly
-Building the World is a first purchase for colleges and universities with programs in engineering. Students in other fields, such as architecture, history, and technology, would find the information in the articles revealing, and general readers would find their interest piqued. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.
—Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin
-Building the World tells the stories behind 41 key projects, giving readers a look into the visionary individuals and often combative teams behind these projects, their historical contexts and surprising facts, and even the real estate contracts and other essential paperwork.
—Colloquy