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To Engineer Is Human
- The Role of Failure in Successful Design
- Narrated by: Matthew Boston
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 03-27-18
- Language: English
- Publisher: Tantor Audio
Regular price: $17.49
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Publisher's Summary
How did a simple design error cause one of the great disasters of the 1980s - the collapse of the walkways at the Kansas City Hyatt Regency Hotel? What made the graceful and innovative Tacoma Narrows Bridge twist apart in a mild wind in 1940?
How did an oversized waterlily inspire the magnificent Crystal Palace, the crowning achievement of Victorian architecture and engineering? These are some of the failures and successes that Henry Petroski, author of the acclaimed The Pencil, examines in this engaging, wonderfully literate book.
More than a series of fascinating case studies, To Engineer Is Human is a work that looks at our deepest notions of progress and perfection, tracing the fine connection between the quantifiable realm of science and the chaotic realities of everyday life.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Owen Grubb
- 09-21-18
Very interesting
Sometimes dry and sometimes outdated, but it did introduce many interesting outlooks on engineering that are still relevant today.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Meiran Liu
- 07-23-18
Good insights on the history of engineering
Mainly focusing on engineering incidents in the 20th century, the book narrates the history of engineering and technological considerations without using jargons. The insights given in the book can be applied to all fields alike. True stories are entertaining. Don’t expect very recent engineering achievements: the book was written in the 1980s! Narration is being done in brillant pace and tone. Highly recommend to all.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Angel
- 06-18-18
Very useful insights
Shows how successes become failures and failure may become successes. A book I feel I will listen to for years to come.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- Waxhaw, NC, United States
- 03-29-18
What were they thinking or did they?
As an engineer with advanced degrees and 45 years of experience, this book did not tell me anything new. However, it was an interesting presentation on design failures more geared to the layman.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful