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Henry Petroski
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To Engineer Is Human: The Role Of Failure In Successful Design Paperback – 4 August 1992

by Henry Petroski (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 440 ratings
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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.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    KNOPF US
  4. Publication date
    4 August 1992
  5. Dimensions
    13.13 x 1.42 x 20.29 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0679734163
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0679734161
  8. See all details
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Review

"Reading Petroski's fine book is not only a delight, it is a necessity." --Houston Chronicle

"Serious, amusing, probing, sometimes frightening, and always literate." --Los Angeles Times

About the Author

Henry Petroski is the Aleksandar S. Vesic Professor of Civil Engineering and a professor of history at Duke University. The author of more than a dozen previous books, he lives in Durham, North Carolina, and Arrowsic, Maine.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ KNOPF US; 1st edition (4 August 1992)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0679734163
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0679734161
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.13 x 1.42 x 20.29 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 440 ratings

About the author

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Henry Petroski

Henry Petroski

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Henry Petroski is the Aleksandar S. Vesic Professor of Civil Engineering and a professor of history at Duke University. The author of more than a dozen previous books, he lives in Durham, North Carolina, and Arrowsic, Maine.

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4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
440 global ratings

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Top review from Australia

Darby
4.0 out of 5 stars Like a old shoe, the books get more comfortable as you read on
Reviewed in Australia on 9 October 2020
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I found the beginning a little confusing as I thought I was preparing for a degree in Engineering and was at the beginning of the coarse.

But as the books slowly unfolds, all of this basic stuff make sense.

As the mystery of engineering disasters unfold, the books introduction to basic engineering principals all make sense.

In fact, the author flushes out exactly what happened to some classical disasters. But he also highlights some of the stunning successes as well, like the Chrystal Palace in London designed by a gardener.

Would I buy this book again - most certainly.
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Hope
5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasure for anyone interested in why things fail
Reviewed in the United States on 6 February 2024
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"To Engineer is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design" is an amazing, fascinating book for those who have curious minds about famous engineers, famous disasters and what has been learned to prevent the next one. It's a great read even for non-engineer types.
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Ramevi
5.0 out of 5 stars El Mejor libro para entender la Ingenieria en practica.
Reviewed in Mexico on 21 August 2019
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De muy joven leí este libro que en cierta forma influyó para que estudiara Ingeniería, sin embargo y casi 30 años de leerlo por primera vez y ahora después de mis experiencias laborales lo he valorado mas que nunca y he comprendido acerca de los errores que se cometen hasta hoy en dia y que pareciera son inevitables -que no lo son-, ahora lo recomiendo a todos aquellos que tienen la intención de estudiar alguna carrera afín a la Ingeniería y que creo que debería ser un texto indispensable tanto para los que quieren aprender y aun mas para los que ya tienen experiencia.
One person found this helpful
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vishal goswami
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book but the price listed is more than MRP
Reviewed in India on 7 October 2020
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A brilliant book for all the engineers. Must read. But the price listed on Amazon is more than the MRP (which is Rs. 799). So, be aware while making the purchase.
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vishal goswami
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book but the price listed is more than MRP
Reviewed in India on 7 October 2020
A brilliant book for all the engineers. Must read. But the price listed on Amazon is more than the MRP (which is Rs. 799). So, be aware while making the purchase.
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dobrana
5.0 out of 5 stars Bought as a gift
Reviewed in Canada on 22 April 2019
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I bought this book as a gift to my sister in law that is a civil engineer, she got a position as a traffic engineer so the book was to motivate her.
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MMM's
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, easy to read
Reviewed in Spain on 14 December 2019
Verified Purchase
My son (16) is very happy with it, and I read some excerpts myself which pleased me. Instructive enough without getting into any theory, calculation or demonstration.
One person found this helpful
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