*Man and Machines* is the final volume in the four-part Russian edition of the popular encyclopedia *The Joy of Discovery*, published by the British publisher Mitchell-Bisley. The structure, content, and objectives set by its creators are detailed in the foreword by the editor-in-chief of the English edition and in the introduction to this volume. All that remains is to offer a few clarifications. Like the three previous volumes, *Man and Machines* is not intended for casual, continuous reading. Instead, it functions both as a reference book and a visual guide to various branches of technology. Each double-page spread focuses on a specific topic. These spreads were assembled independently, so neighboring pages may not always be methodologically linked. This explains why some facts appear repeatedly in different parts of the book. The authors aimed to trace the history of technology from ancient times to the present day. Overall, they succeeded, thanks largely to carefully selected illustrations. *Man and Machines* is the fourth volume of *The Joy of Discovery*. It provides an overview of technology as the practical application of science to meet everyday human needs. We included everything we found most interesting and relevant to the development of machines, mechanisms, inventions, and technology. Our goal was to present this core information—both in words and illustrations—in a way that makes sense, forming a logical, clear, and cohesive narrative.