Defending Your Castle: Build Catapults, Crossbows, Moats, Bulletproof Shields, And More Defensive Devices To Fend Off The Invading Hordes Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
Your home is your castle, but could it withstand an attack by Attila and the Huns, Ragnar and the Vikings, Alexander and the Greeks, Genghis Khan and the Mongols, or Tamerlane and the Tartars? Engineer William Gurstelle, author of the bestselling Backyard Ballistics, poses this fascinating question to modern-day garage warriors and shows how to build an arsenal of ancient artillery and fortifications aimed at withstanding these invading hordes. Each chapter introduces new bad actors in the history of warfare, details their conquests, and features weapons and fortifications to defend against them-culminating, by the end of the book, in a fully fortified home. Clear step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and photographs explain how to build a dozen projects from table-top models of the Cheval-de-frise, Da Vinci's Catapult, and Alexander's Tortoise to the fullsize working Carpini's Crossbow, Hour-Glass Watchtower, and Palisade Wall. With a strong emphasis on safety, this book also gives tips on troubleshooting, explains the physics behind many of the projects, and shows where to find the best materials. It's sure to be an indispensible guide for at-home defenders everywhere.
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Chicago Review Press (June 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1613746822
ISBN-13: 978-1613746820
Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.5 x 10 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #156,818 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #34 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Engineering > Military Technology #59 in Books > Science & Math > Experiments, Instruments & Measurement > Experiments & Projects #70 in Books > Textbooks > Social Sciences > Military Sciences
** I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.Why would a guy who reviews horror, sci-fi, and fantasy review a book about home defenses? The answer should be obvious, and I can sum it up for you in two words: zombie apocalypse. That’s right. When the living dead rise and seek to feast upon your flesh, what better way to ward them off than with a catapult? And if THE WALKING DEAD has taught us anything, it’s that crossbows are better than guns because arrows are easier to replace than bullets. So why not build your own? Author and engineer William Gurstelle enlightens and entertains with the informative and fun book, DEFENDING YOUR CASTLE, a guide to fortifying your home for the ages. Chocked full of pictures and diagrams (including instructions and how-tos), this is one book every DIY aficionado will want to own.I have to tell you: this book is an absolute joy to read. It is witty and insightful, and yet crammed to the hilt with information. I daresay it is a refreshing perspective on what could otherwise be dull, textbook like data. And while it doesn't technically discuss zombies or any other end-of-the-world scenario, the information contained within would be invaluable in the event of such an occurrence.DEFENDING YOUR CASTLE is written well and presents a slew of information in an easy-to-understand format. The illustrations and pictures are precise and informative, eye-catching images that spice up the text in a variety of ways. The instructions are crisp and clear, but they are also presented with specific warnings and cautions; these are included to help not only the average handyman, but even the most veteran of builders. The result is a top-notch guide in which every homeowner should invest.
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