Name: Structures
ISBN: 9780140136289

J E Gordon

In "The New Science of Strong Materials" the author made plain the secrets of materials science. In this volume he explains the importance and properties of different structures.

Or Why Things Don't Fall Down

Structures

J. E. Gordon

In a book that Business Insider noted as one of the "14 Books that inspired Elon Musk," J.E. Gordon strips engineering of its confusing technical terms, communicating its founding principles in accessible, witty prose. For anyone who has ever wondered why suspension bridges don't collapse under eight lanes of traffic, how dams hold back--or give way under--thousands of gallons of water, or what principles guide the design of a skyscraper, a bias-cut dress, or a kangaroo, this book will ease your anxiety and answer your questions. Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down is an informal explanation of the basic forces that hold together the ordinary and essential things of this world--from buildings and bodies to flying aircraft and eggshells. In a style that combines wit, a masterful command of his subject, and an encyclopedic range of reference, Gordon includes such chapters as "How to Design a Worm" and "The Advantage of Being a Beam," offering humorous insights in human and natural creation. Architects and engineers will appreciate the clear and cogent explanations of the concepts of stress, shear, torsion, fracture, and compression. If you're building a house, a sailboat, or a catapult, here is a handy tool for understanding the mechanics of joinery, floors, ceilings, hulls, masts--or flying buttresses. Without jargon or oversimplification, Structures opens up the marvels of technology to anyone interested in the foundations of our everyday lives.

Bouke van der Bijl

Enjoyable book that lies down a lot of principles for how to construct things in a good way. It shows away from being too theoretical while also not being too 'popsci', a good balance. I found the chapters on aesthetics to be the most enjoyable.

James Paden

This is a hard read. I could read about five pages in a setting, but the topic is fascinating so I keep going. The first half of this book is intriguing. I might skip the second half. It just became too technical and it was harder for me to keep my interest. All in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone who, like me, kept looking at buildings and other structures and asking: "how does that stay up?" Now I know!

Roberta Falco

The book provides an interesting outlook on engineering especially compared to biology, but as a female engineer I would have been able to appreciate it much more if the author didn’t insist on multiple useless comments objectifying women and portraying us just as things to look at or to explain things to. Really off-putting.

Structures Or Why Things Don't Fall Down

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