MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
This Christmas I was given a copy of Adrian Newey's "How to build a car", which has been one of the most entertaining reads I've had for years. Thinking back, the only other book that has come close is Ben Rich's book about Skunk Works.
Both of these books are easy to read and I've enjoyed them immensely. Although my background is mechanical engineering I didn't mind the lack of technical detail - in fact if anything I think it adds to the readability and enjoyment of the story.
I'm looking for recommendations for books to follow on with. Although military planes and formula one cars are "sexy" topics for me as a mechanical engineer, I don't think that the field of engineering is necessarily the key ingredient. In fact, a well written book on civil, electrical or biological engineering may well be of much interest!
In fact, I don't think the book has to be a biography either - perhaps there are entertaining novels with engineering as a core theme (I don't count "The Goal" as entertaining...).
Cheers
Many many years ago I read this
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_God_Particle_(book)
Quite entertaining at the time and opened up a lot of things to think about. Not strictly engineering but the culmination of a lot of work and history in one field.
Maybe on a different path, but Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a great read if you make or repair things.
Similarly, The Craftsman by Richard Sennet is a good read; not big, sexy projects, but both good at exploring the ways that technical people view objects and systems.
Also, Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla was very interesting, though could sometimes delve into the minutiae of his life too much, rather than the big ideas.
I like some of the older engineering history books - as does my dad.
These went down well as christmas pressies in the past few years:
Forth rail bridge
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Briggers-Story-Built-Forth-Bridge/dp/1841587613/ref=pd_sbs_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1841587613&pd_rd_r=378cd8e8-127d-11e9-9bbb-0f2d88eeddf9&pd_rd_w=s0BIR&pd_rd_wg=BBwlK&pf_rd_p=18edf98b-139a-41ee-bb40-d725dd59d1d3&pf_rd_r=KQJP1107A8F5XZ63PEDG&psc=1&refRID=KQJP1107A8F5XZ63PEDG
Ah, I remember The New Science of Strong Materials (or why you don't fall through the floor) from college.
Really enjoyed this book about Tesla
And this one on Lighthouses
Quite tenuous but this is a great read too. Historical fiction set around the building of a cathedral.
The Unfair Advantage by Mark Donohue is part biography, part engineering guidance. A fascinating read.
I remember The New Science of Strong Materials (or why you don’t fall through the floor) from college
Me too. 1972-76 - I don't know how long it was current for?
Tao of Physics Fritjof Capra.
Not strictly within spec but if you include quantum mechanics then possibly.
Excellent! Thank you all for the suggestions. First port of call will be charity shops to see if I can find any of these hiding away before sending more money to Amazon.
The Concorde Story by Christopher Orlebar is a great book if you can find it.
Vulcan 607 (Rowland White) has a fair bit of engineering in it, it's a bit breathless at times but as long as you're not expecting Shakespeare it's entertaining enough.
The Railways (Simon Bradley) is more social history, but there's a lot of train engineering in it too.
The Tower and the Bridge by David P Billington is a good read for structural engineering.
Also, The Golden, what everyone should know about science is a favourite as well.
Vulcan 607 is a cracking book.
Was going to say the JE Gordon books.
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough - very thorough but not heavy going.
Anything by Phil E Irving if you like motorbikes.
Depends on level of engineering obviously - (and the Tesla book looks good).
Ones I remember reading a long time ago - just out of university from computer science background -- were "The Cuckoo's Egg" and "The Soul of a New Machine" - links below.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cuckoo%27s_Egg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Soul_of_a_New_Machine
Soul of a New Machine in particular was very resonant in terms of insight into young computer engineers and the lack of hierarchy, the obsession in getting things right, I had to double check it wasn't based on folk I worked with.
Another vote for The Cuckoo's Egg.
This is well worth a read : Commodore: A Company On The Edge by Brian Bagnall
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0973864966/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Bookmarking.
Motorcycle Engineering by Phi Irving.
Bit dated now, but the info on bike dynamics isn't.
An all time favourite
My copy cost me 350 quid about 15 years ago not...looks like a sound investment
You will be able to subdivide and manufacture the component pieces of a gnats cock if that's your thing
Might be a bit heavy going but you did ask for engineering books.
Not engineering, but planning, more relevant to everyones life...
The lighthouse stephensons is a top read.
Stealing speed about MZ and cold war defections is a good one
Lighthouse Stephenson is also spot on
I've just started Atomic Accidents: A History of Nuclear Meltdowns and Disasters: From the Ozark Mountains to Fukushima https://g.co/kgs/wZjbpx after a recommendation on another book thread on here. It's very entertaining so far.
Panama Fever is a good history of the (long) history of the Panama canal from conception to its final completion. Over running and over budget is not a modern invention.
Inventing the internet
Get down to the micro level and try and put a full set of these together.
Ingenious Mechanisms for Designers and Inventors.