I understand the concept that the CPU's machine code is what translates the binary input into commands, and then executes these commands, many billion times per second. I can understand how, given this concept, everything works -- breakneck calculations and a fantastically comprehensive codebook allow for advanced processes.
But explain to me why is this is given? In other words, if someone was pitching this idea to me as a mere concept, I would think they were absurd -- obviously it works, so please show me my error! Why does this work at all? Where is this codebook stored physically on the CPU, and beyond the mere logic of it, how does the codebook 'force,' so to speak, the physical hardware to 'obey' the commands that it translates? What is intimately going on here..? Is there a 'codebook' register that, when it reflects a specific code, 'decodes' this information by physically sending an electrical charge to a specific series of wires? How then does this work..?
I have read various resources, but all of them explain how the CPU works without explaining precisely why it does in a purely physical sense. Every resource escapes this by using an oddly anthropomorphizing analogy, or using an explanation laden with words that have no business being used to describe the automatic processes of machines like those 'quoted' above. Any straight-forward explanation or resources on this specific question would be greatly appreciated.