Written by the famed inventor’s granddaughter herself for builders of all ages, this is the only official guide to building 25 kid-friendly Rube Goldberg Machines at home

To build a Rube Goldberg Machine, all you need is a pile of junk and a great imagination. Rube Goldberg’s granddaughter, Jennifer George, has teamed up with world-renowned Rube Goldberg machine builder Zach Umperovitch to show us just how true that is in this comprehensive guide to building Rube Goldberg Machines at home. Written in partnership with Rube Goldberg’s granddaughter herself, Jennifer George, this book breaks down how to build a variety of machines that solve simple problems in complex ways. Progressing in difficulty with each chapter, kids (and builders of all ages) will learn how to construct super simple machines that fit on a tabletop, to hard ones that take up entire rooms or yards! Learn how to start chain reactions that refill your popcorn automatically on movie night, open umbrellas, and even pack a picnic, one step at a time. Filled with jokes, fun facts, and tips and tricks to make building as successful as possible, this book is sure to satisfy every family’s most curious and inventive minds!
 
 
POPULAR SUBJECT: Rube Goldberg was a Pulitzer Prize-Winning cartoonist famous for his zany contraptions and whose name is now an adjective. With over half a billion posts for #rubegoldberg on TikTok and millions of posts on YouTube and other platforms, Rube Goldberg lives on as some of the most popular content on social media.
EASY TO USE: Features detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to build 24 Rube Goldberg Machines at home with materials you already have or are easy to find. It also includes substitute materials for almost everything, making builds accessible while encouraging creative thinking and improvisation.
STEAM HOOK: Goldberg is part of STEM and STEAM education around the world, including 3rd to 5th grade school curricula across the United States. This book teaches foundational physics concepts, simple machines, critical thinking, problem solving, and more.
LAUGH-OUT-LOUD HUMOR: An inventive combination of practical how-to information and humor based on Goldberg’s classic cartoons, this book makes learning how to build truly fun.
AUTHORIZED: Written in consultation with the Rube Goldberg Institute for Innovation and Creativity. 
 
Contributor Bio(s)
 
Jennifer George, Rube Goldberg’s granddaughter, is the Chief Creative Officer of The Rube Goldberg Institute for Innovation & Creativity, a not–for–profit 501(c)–3, committed to equity and access in STEM and art education. She is the author of Baby Rube’s Opposites, Rube Goldberg’s Simple Normal Humdrum School Day, Rube Goldberg’s Simple Normal Definitely Different Day Off, and The Art of Rube Goldberg.
 Zach Umperovitch is the world’s leading authority in designing, constructing, testing, judging, and all-around anything Chain Reaction/Rube Goldberg Machine–related. He is a three-time Guinness World Records holder for the longest machine ever built, a National Champion at the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest, and an on-screen expert, judge, and engineering producer for Crazy Contraptions on Channel 4 and Discovery+. He lives in New Hampshire. 
Ed Steckley is an award-winning print and advertising illustrator based in Racine, Wisconsin.