Henry Petroski and JE Gordon

Engineering Potpourri Failures & Disasters
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#1

I can think of some very interesting and well-written books about engineering, that have particular focus on accidents that have happened, why they happened, and what was learned from them. I enjoyed both the writing and the… indoctrination might be the right word… to the culture of professional engineers who look at past failures and are compelled to do better.

Henry Petrosky, To Engineer is Human

J. E. Gordon, Structures: Or Why Things Don’t Fall Down

Other similar suggestions are welcome.

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#2

Those are good books. Should be required reading in every freshman engineering introduction course.

#3

I would add,
Don Norman’s The Design of everyday things

With a bit more of an aerospace bend there is
What Engineers Know and How They Know It
Its a bit dry but with good development of technology stories.

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