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Civil Engineering
by David Muir Wood • 2012
Why bridges stand and dams hold: a compact tour of civil engineering, from soil to steel.
3.61
137
Civil Engineering Summary
Civil Engineering 97%
Why bridges stand and dams hold: a compact tour of civil engineering, from soil to steel.
by David Muir Wood 2012
3.61
137 ratings
Networks of New York
by Ingrid Burrington • 2016
Orange lines on the pavement mark fiber-optic cables: a field guide to the visible internet.
3.80
232
Networks of New York Summary
Networks of New York 95%
Orange lines on the pavement mark fiber-optic cables: a field guide to the visible internet.
by Ingrid Burrington 2016
3.80
232 ratings
The Road Taken
by Henry Petroski • 2016
The $121 billion congestion tax: what the history of pavement says about fixing America's roads.
3.44
529
The Road Taken Summary
The Road Taken 94%
The $121 billion congestion tax: what the history of pavement says about fixing America's roads.
by Henry Petroski 2016
3.44
529 ratings
Structures
by J.E. Gordon • 1978
The hidden physics that keeps the world standing, and the surprising ways everything still breaks.
4.14
4k+
Structures Summary
Structures 94%
The hidden physics that keeps the world standing, and the surprising ways everything still breaks.
by J.E. Gordon 1978
4.14
4k+ ratings
Engineers of Dreams
by Henry Petroski • 1995
America's bridges were built by dreamers, rivals, and the hard lessons of catastrophic failure.
3.78
166
Engineers of Dreams Summary
Engineers of Dreams 94%
America's bridges were built by dreamers, rivals, and the hard lessons of catastrophic failure.
by Henry Petroski 1995
3.78
166 ratings
To Engineer Is Human
by Henry Petroski • 1985
Every disaster is a lesson plan. Bridges stay up because engineers study the ones that fell.
3.69
3k+
To Engineer Is Human Summary
To Engineer Is Human 93%
Every disaster is a lesson plan. Bridges stay up because engineers study the ones that fell.
by Henry Petroski 1985
3.69
3k+ ratings
Small Things Considered
by Henry Petroski • 2003
Why nothing works perfectly: the constraints hiding inside every object you use.
3.40
334
Small Things Considered Summary
Small Things Considered 93%
Why nothing works perfectly: the constraints hiding inside every object you use.
by Henry Petroski 2003
3.40
334 ratings
How Infrastructure Works
by Deb Chachra • 2023
The hidden networks you rely on were built for a climate that no longer exists.
3.64
937
How Infrastructure Works Summary
How Infrastructure Works 93%
The hidden networks you rely on were built for a climate that no longer exists.
by Deb Chachra 2023
3.64
937 ratings
Stuff Matters
by Mark Miodownik • 2013
What a steel razor and a teacup reveal about civilization: the hidden science of everyday materials.
4.11
21k+
Stuff Matters Summary
Stuff Matters 93%
What a steel razor and a teacup reveal about civilization: the hidden science of everyday materials.
by Mark Miodownik 2013
4.11
21k+ ratings
The Evolution of Useful Things
by Henry Petroski • 1994
Annoyance, not function, gave us forks, zippers, paper clips. The real driver of everyday design.
3.52
1k+
The Evolution of Useful Things Summary
The Evolution of Useful Things 93%
Annoyance, not function, gave us forks, zippers, paper clips. The real driver of everyday design.
by Henry Petroski 1994
3.52
1k+ ratings
The Essential Engineer
by Henry Petroski • 2010
Science explains; engineering creates. When we confuse the two, our biggest problems get harder.
3.37
270
The Essential Engineer Summary
The Essential Engineer 93%
Science explains; engineering creates. When we confuse the two, our biggest problems get harder.
by Henry Petroski 2010
3.37
270 ratings
Smart Cities
by Anthony M. Townsend • 2013
Corporations are selling smart cities. A movement of civic hackers has a better blueprint.
3.61
817
Smart Cities Summary
Smart Cities 92%
Corporations are selling smart cities. A movement of civic hackers has a better blueprint.
by Anthony M. Townsend 2013
3.61
817 ratings
Invention by Design; How Engineers Get from Thought to Thing
by Petroski • 1996
Paper clips, fax machines, bridges: what their shortcomings reveal about the logic of engineering.
3.75
351
Invention by Design; How Engineers Get from Thought to Thing Summary
Invention by Design; How Engineers Get from Thought to Thing 92%
Paper clips, fax machines, bridges: what their shortcomings reveal about the logic of engineering.
by Petroski 1996
3.75
351 ratings
Success through Failure
by Henry Petroski • 2006
Every triumph contains the seed of its collapse; the art of design is spotting it early.
3.60
201
Success through Failure Summary
Success through Failure 92%
Every triumph contains the seed of its collapse; the art of design is spotting it early.
by Henry Petroski 2006
3.60
201 ratings
The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces
by William H. Whyte • 1980
A decade of time-lapse footage on New York plazas upended every assumption about what draws a crowd.
4.33
927
The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces Summary
The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces 92%
A decade of time-lapse footage on New York plazas upended every assumption about what draws a crowd.
by William H. Whyte 1980
4.33
927 ratings
Streetfight
by Janette Sadik-Khan • 2016
Paint, data, and political nerve: beating the car-first status quo.
4.26
2k+
Streetfight Summary
Streetfight 92%
Paint, data, and political nerve: beating the car-first status quo.
by Janette Sadik-Khan 2016
4.26
2k+ ratings
How We Got to Now
by Steven Johnson • 2014
Six ordinary breakthroughs built the modern world; their biggest consequences were never planned.
4.12
16k+
How We Got to Now Summary
How We Got to Now 92%
Six ordinary breakthroughs built the modern world; their biggest consequences were never planned.
by Steven Johnson 2014
4.12
16k+ ratings
The Perfectionists
by Simon Winchester • 2018
From cylinders to microchips: the hidden pursuit of perfect smoothness that built the modern world.
4.15
7k+
The Perfectionists Summary
The Perfectionists 92%
From cylinders to microchips: the hidden pursuit of perfect smoothness that built the modern world.
by Simon Winchester 2018
4.15
7k+ ratings
The Pencil
by Henry Petroski • 1992
A pencil hides centuries of engineering failures, global trade, and the secret to good design.
3.80
657
The Pencil Summary
The Pencil 91%
A pencil hides centuries of engineering failures, global trade, and the secret to good design.
by Henry Petroski 1992
3.80
657 ratings
The Things We Make
by Bill Hammack • 2023
Engineering isn't applied science: it's the art of solving problems before anyone understands them.
3.75
1k+
The Things We Make Summary
The Things We Make 91%
Engineering isn't applied science: it's the art of solving problems before anyone understands them.
by Bill Hammack 2023
3.75
1k+ ratings
Against the smart city
by Adam Greenfield • 2013
Smart cities sell efficiency but deliver surveillance. The real operating system is people.
3.96
132
Against the smart city Summary
Against the smart city 91%
Smart cities sell efficiency but deliver surveillance. The real operating system is people.
by Adam Greenfield 2013
3.96
132 ratings
Road to Nowhere
by Paris Marx • 2022
The tech-driven transportation future is a dead end. The real fix: fewer cars, better transit.
4.16
643
Road to Nowhere Summary
Road to Nowhere 91%
The tech-driven transportation future is a dead end. The real fix: fewer cars, better transit.
by Paris Marx 2022
4.16
643 ratings
The Smart Enough City
by Ben Green • 2019
Smart cities dress up political problems as engineering ones. The fix is governance, not gadgets.
4.12
208
The Smart Enough City Summary
The Smart Enough City 91%
Smart cities dress up political problems as engineering ones. The fix is governance, not gadgets.
by Ben Green 2019
4.12
208 ratings
Speculative Everything
by Anthony Dunne • 2013
Most design fixes problems. This design invents fictional worlds to test-drive better ones.
4.12
999
Speculative Everything Summary
Speculative Everything 91%
Most design fixes problems. This design invents fictional worlds to test-drive better ones.
by Anthony Dunne 2013
4.12
999 ratings
How to Invent Everything
by Ryan North • 2018
Stranded in the past with nothing but your wits, and the flowchart says you're before 50,000 BCE.
4.14
6k+
How to Invent Everything Summary
How to Invent Everything 91%
Stranded in the past with nothing but your wits, and the flowchart says you're before 50,000 BCE.
by Ryan North 2018
4.14
6k+ ratings
Cities
by Monica L. Smith • 2019
Cities were never about efficiency. They were about all the things you cannot get alone.
3.26
446
Cities Summary
Cities 91%
Cities were never about efficiency. They were about all the things you cannot get alone.
by Monica L. Smith 2019
3.26
446 ratings
Notes on the Synthesis of Form
by Christopher W. Alexander • 1964
Intuition fails modern design. The answer: map all failures, then solve one subsystem at a time.
4.06
758
Notes on the Synthesis of Form Summary
Notes on the Synthesis of Form 91%
Intuition fails modern design. The answer: map all failures, then solve one subsystem at a time.
by Christopher W. Alexander 1964
4.06
758 ratings
You Belong to the Universe
by Jonathan Keats • 2016
Buckminster Fuller never built a world-saving machine. He invented a way of thinking that could.
3.65
393
You Belong to the Universe Summary
You Belong to the Universe 91%
Buckminster Fuller never built a world-saving machine. He invented a way of thinking that could.
by Jonathan Keats 2016
3.65
393 ratings
Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness
by Henepola Gunaratana • 2001
You wake up to cortisol, brush with fluoride, and carry a lithium battery. Chemistry did that.
4.3
2k+
Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness Summary
Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness 91%
You wake up to cortisol, brush with fluoride, and carry a lithium battery. Chemistry did that.
by Henepola Gunaratana 2001
4.3
2k+ ratings
Tactical Urbanism
by Mike Lydon • 2014
How to hack your city with paint, planters, and pop-up parks, and prove change is possible now.
3.99
315
Tactical Urbanism Summary
Tactical Urbanism 91%
How to hack your city with paint, planters, and pop-up parks, and prove change is possible now.
by Mike Lydon 2014
3.99
315 ratings
Design for the Real World
by Victor Papanek • 1972
Design fills the world with disposables. A manifesto for building what people actually need.
4.24
2k+
Design for the Real World Summary
Design for the Real World 91%
Design fills the world with disposables. A manifesto for building what people actually need.
by Victor Papanek 1972
4.24
2k+ ratings
Happy City
by Charles Montgomery • 2012
Sprawl isolates and exhausts. The evidence for repairing cities around human connection and joy.
4.36
10k+
Happy City Summary
Happy City 91%
Sprawl isolates and exhausts. The evidence for repairing cities around human connection and joy.
by Charles Montgomery 2012
4.36
10k+ ratings
The Software Architect Elevator
by Gregor Hohpe • 2020
Vertical commute: connecting boardroom strategy to shipping code without getting thrown off either.
4.38
673
The Software Architect Elevator Summary
The Software Architect Elevator 91%
Vertical commute: connecting boardroom strategy to shipping code without getting thrown off either.
by Gregor Hohpe 2020
4.38
673 ratings
12 Essential Skills for Software Architects
by Dave Hendricksen • 2011
Code gets you in the room. The interpersonal skills that actually get your architecture adopted.
3.67
124
12 Essential Skills for Software Architects Summary
12 Essential Skills for Software Architects 91%
Code gets you in the room. The interpersonal skills that actually get your architecture adopted.
by Dave Hendricksen 2011
3.67
124 ratings
The Book on the Bookshelf
by Henry Petroski • 1999
Why books once faced the wall and wore chains: the bookshelf as a history of engineering.
3.75
1k+
The Book on the Bookshelf Summary
The Book on the Bookshelf 91%
Why books once faced the wall and wore chains: the bookshelf as a history of engineering.
by Henry Petroski 1999
3.75
1k+ ratings
At Home
by Bill Bryson • 2010
Every room in your house conceals a history of bloodshed, invention, and empire.
3.99
99k+
At Home Summary
At Home 90%
Every room in your house conceals a history of bloodshed, invention, and empire.
by Bill Bryson 2010
3.99
99k+ ratings
The Nature of Technology
by W. Brian Arthur • 2009
Technology is nature harnessed, then endlessly recombined. Each invention fuels the next.
3.95
858
The Nature of Technology Summary
The Nature of Technology 90%
Technology is nature harnessed, then endlessly recombined. Each invention fuels the next.
by W. Brian Arthur 2009
3.95
858 ratings
The Architecture of Happiness
by Alain de Botton • 2006
The buildings we love don't just look good. They model the person we want to be.
3.86
15k+
The Architecture of Happiness Summary
The Architecture of Happiness 90%
The buildings we love don't just look good. They model the person we want to be.
by Alain de Botton 2006
3.86
15k+ ratings
How to Dunk a Doughnut
by Len Fisher • 2002
A physicist unpacks the hidden forces inside a doughnut dunk, a boiled egg, and a boomerang.
3.34
277
How to Dunk a Doughnut Summary
How to Dunk a Doughnut 90%
A physicist unpacks the hidden forces inside a doughnut dunk, a boiled egg, and a boomerang.
by Len Fisher 2002
3.34
277 ratings
How the World Really Works
by Vaclav Smil • 2022
Both doomers and utopians skip the same thing: modern civilization's staggering material scale.
3.94
14k+
How the World Really Works Summary
How the World Really Works 90%
Both doomers and utopians skip the same thing: modern civilization's staggering material scale.
by Vaclav Smil 2022
3.94
14k+ ratings
Curbing Traffic
by Melissa Bruntlett • 2021
Dutch cities prove removing cars heals loneliness, restores childhood, and makes everyone richer.
4.38
633
Curbing Traffic Summary
Curbing Traffic 90%
Dutch cities prove removing cars heals loneliness, restores childhood, and makes everyone richer.
by Melissa Bruntlett 2021
4.38
633 ratings
The Alchemy of Us
by Ainissa Ramirez • 2020
We invented quartz clocks, steel rails, and silicon chips. Then they reinvented us.
3.90
1k+
The Alchemy of Us Summary
The Alchemy of Us 90%
We invented quartz clocks, steel rails, and silicon chips. Then they reinvented us.
by Ainissa Ramirez 2020
3.90
1k+ ratings
Platform Engineering
by Camille Fournier • 2024
Platform teams fail without product thinking. How to build internal tools developers actually love.
4.03
119
Platform Engineering Summary
Platform Engineering 90%
Platform teams fail without product thinking. How to build internal tools developers actually love.
by Camille Fournier 2024
4.03
119 ratings
Design Systems Handbook
by DesignBetter.co • 2019
A shared visual language of components and tokens that makes design scale without the mess.
3.92
153
Design Systems Handbook Summary
Design Systems Handbook 90%
A shared visual language of components and tokens that makes design scale without the mess.
by DesignBetter.co 2019
3.92
153 ratings
Discursive Design
by Bruce M. Tharp • 2019
What if your toaster had an opinion? A field guide to design that argues.
4.36
25
Discursive Design Summary
Discursive Design 90%
What if your toaster had an opinion? A field guide to design that argues.
by Bruce M. Tharp 2019
4.36
25 ratings
The Art of Doing Science and Engineering
by Richard W. Hamming • 1996
What separates great scientists from good ones: they pick better problems.
4.18
2k+
The Art of Doing Science and Engineering Summary
The Art of Doing Science and Engineering 90%
What separates great scientists from good ones: they pick better problems.
by Richard W. Hamming 1996
4.18
2k+ ratings
India’s Railway Man
by Rajendra B. Aklekar • 2017
Bridge: 46 days. Mountain railway: 7 years. The values that built modern India on schedule.
3.85
249
India’s Railway Man Summary
India’s Railway Man 90%
Bridge: 46 days. Mountain railway: 7 years. The values that built modern India on schedule.
by Rajendra B. Aklekar 2017
3.85
249 ratings
The Upcycle
by William McDonough • 2013
Less harm is still harm. The blueprint for designing products, buildings, and systems that heal.
4.00
1k+
The Upcycle Summary
The Upcycle 90%
Less harm is still harm. The blueprint for designing products, buildings, and systems that heal.
by William McDonough 2013
4.00
1k+ ratings
Information Architecture for the World Wide Web
by Peter Morville • 1998
Why most large websites feel like a maze, and the craft of making them findable.
3.93
4k+
Information Architecture for the World Wide Web Summary
Information Architecture for the World Wide Web 90%
Why most large websites feel like a maze, and the craft of making them findable.
by Peter Morville 1998
3.93
4k+ ratings
Palaces for the People
by Eric Klinenberg • 2018
Stronger than seawalls: the shared spaces that hold communities together when everything breaks.
3.97
5k+
Palaces for the People Summary
Palaces for the People 90%
Stronger than seawalls: the shared spaces that hold communities together when everything breaks.
by Eric Klinenberg 2018
3.97
5k+ ratings
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