Book Reviews

Engineering is one of the most satisfying professions to choose from. Engineering is a way of working that involves applying knowledge (scientific / practical / mathematical /social ) in order to design and build things (devices / structures / machines / processes) with a view to improving the lives of people.

We maintain a small library of non-technical books about Engineers, Engineering and related topics, which we add to each month. Here are some of the books on our list, with our thoughts. If you have a suggestion about a book we should add to our library, please let us know!

		Paradox : The nine greatest enigmas in Physics by Jim Al-Khalili. David is both reading and not reading this book at the same time. When he is finished, he will travel back in time and write a review. If he does not like the review, he will not read the book.
		Men of Iron by Sally Dugan. This book was suggested by Keith, and he is currently reading it... review pending!
		Inflight Science : A Guide to the World from your Airplane Window by Brian Clegg This book was suggested by the IET and was last read by Alan on a plane to Denmark. Alan assures us that the ensuing emergency landing had nothing to do with him.
		Fred Dibnah's Age of Steam by Fred Dibnah. This book was suggested by Keith, and provides an account of the development of steam power and of the engineers and entrepreneurs behind the developments. While we were inspired by their achievements, we were also a little concerned that the majority of these enterprising engineers seemed to be left destitute and penniless...
		Remarkable Engineers : From Riquet to Shannon by Ioan James This book was an IET recommendation, and reading it is a quick and easy way to reduce your engineering ego. Thank you IET...?
		Haynes Owner's Workshop Manual for the Lancaster Bomber This book was suggested by Keith, and provides a conveniently sized manual for servicing those Lancaster bombers that we all have lying around in our sheds. As well as technical drawings, the book tells some of the history of the plane. The engineering tolerances designed into this plane are difficult to achieve today: so much for progress!
		Leonardo's Machines: Da Vinci's Inventions Revealed by Domenico Laurenza. This book was suggested by Robin. He has been taking a while to get through it, as his carpentry skills are not what they used to be.
		Zen And The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance : An Enquiry into Values by Robert Pirsig This classic was suggested to Andrew by a computer science lecturer when he was at university. It is a thrilling discussion of motorbike servicing, and has some philosophy thrown in too. The book serves to remind us that science is an art and philosophy is just a branch of Engineering.