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Materials Science and Engineering
by William D. Callister Jr. • 1985
Atomic architecture decides whether a material bends, shatters, or conducts. Learn the map.
4.08
863
Materials Science and Engineering Summary
Materials Science and Engineering 90%
Atomic architecture decides whether a material bends, shatters, or conducts. Learn the map.
by William D. Callister Jr. 1985
4.08
863 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
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 90%
What a steel razor and a teacup reveal about civilization: the hidden science of everyday materials.
by Mark Miodownik 2013
4.11
21k+ ratings
Material World
by Ed Conway • 2023
Six buried materials hold up modern life. The clean energy shift means digging more, not less.
4.5
9k+
Material World Summary
Material World 89%
Six buried materials hold up modern life. The clean energy shift means digging more, not less.
by Ed Conway 2023
4.5
9k+ 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 89%
Annoyance, not function, gave us forks, zippers, paper clips. The real driver of everyday design.
by Henry Petroski 1994
3.52
1k+ 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 89%
A pencil hides centuries of engineering failures, global trade, and the secret to good design.
by Henry Petroski 1992
3.80
657 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 89%
From cylinders to microchips: the hidden pursuit of perfect smoothness that built the modern world.
by Simon Winchester 2018
4.15
7k+ 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 89%
Engineering isn't applied science: it's the art of solving problems before anyone understands them.
by Bill Hammack 2023
3.75
1k+ 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 89%
Paper clips, fax machines, bridges: what their shortcomings reveal about the logic of engineering.
by Petroski 1996
3.75
351 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 88%
Design fills the world with disposables. A manifesto for building what people actually need.
by Victor Papanek 1972
4.24
2k+ 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 88%
Why nothing works perfectly: the constraints hiding inside every object you use.
by Henry Petroski 2003
3.40
334 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 88%
Why books once faced the wall and wore chains: the bookshelf as a history of engineering.
by Henry Petroski 1999
3.75
1k+ ratings
Hertzian Tales
by Anthony Dunne • 1999
Electronic objects are behavioral scripts and portals to a hidden electromagnetic world.
4.26
125
Hertzian Tales Summary
Hertzian Tales 88%
Electronic objects are behavioral scripts and portals to a hidden electromagnetic world.
by Anthony Dunne 1999
4.26
125 ratings
Encyclopedia of Electronic Components Volume 1
by Charles Platt • 2012
What every capacitor, relay, and resistor actually does, and how to choose the right one.
4.34
186
Encyclopedia of Electronic Components Volume 1 Summary
Encyclopedia of Electronic Components Volume 1 88%
What every capacitor, relay, and resistor actually does, and how to choose the right one.
by Charles Platt 2012
4.34
186 ratings
Maintenance of Everything
by Stewart Brand • 2026
Civilization runs on maintenance nobody sees, values, or funds. Until it stops.
4.00
516
Maintenance of Everything Summary
Maintenance of Everything 88%
Civilization runs on maintenance nobody sees, values, or funds. Until it stops.
by Stewart Brand 2026
4.00
516 ratings
TRIZ For Dummies
by Lilly Haines-Gadd • 2016
Turn impossible trade-offs into breakthroughs. A patent-proven method for systematic innovation.
4.07
54
TRIZ For Dummies Summary
TRIZ For Dummies 88%
Turn impossible trade-offs into breakthroughs. A patent-proven method for systematic innovation.
by Lilly Haines-Gadd 2016
4.07
54 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 88%
Science explains; engineering creates. When we confuse the two, our biggest problems get harder.
by Henry Petroski 2010
3.37
270 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 88%
A shared visual language of components and tokens that makes design scale without the mess.
by DesignBetter.co 2019
3.92
153 ratings
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 88%
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
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 88%
The hidden physics that keeps the world standing, and the surprising ways everything still breaks.
by J.E. Gordon 1978
4.14
4k+ ratings
Concrete Planet
by Robert Courland • 2011
Concrete is older than the wheel, built Rome, and now silently corrodes the modern world.
3.89
218
Concrete Planet Summary
Concrete Planet 88%
Concrete is older than the wheel, built Rome, and now silently corrodes the modern world.
by Robert Courland 2011
3.89
218 ratings
The Craftsman
by Richard Sennett • 2008
Making things well is a universal human drive. Modern work is designed to suppress it.
3.84
2k+
The Craftsman Summary
The Craftsman 88%
Making things well is a universal human drive. Modern work is designed to suppress it.
by Richard Sennett 2008
3.84
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 88%
Six ordinary breakthroughs built the modern world; their biggest consequences were never planned.
by Steven Johnson 2014
4.12
16k+ ratings
Software Requirements
by Karl Wiegers • 1999
Nearly half of all software defects trace back to bad requirements. The fix starts here.
4.14
859
Software Requirements Summary
Software Requirements 87%
Nearly half of all software defects trace back to bad requirements. The fix starts here.
by Karl Wiegers 1999
4.14
859 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 87%
What if your toaster had an opinion? A field guide to design that argues.
by Bruce M. Tharp 2019
4.36
25 ratings
The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes
by John Britt • 2004
High-fire glazes: the recipes, chemistry, and firing know-how for repeatable cone 10 results.
4.49
138
The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes Summary
The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes 87%
High-fire glazes: the recipes, chemistry, and firing know-how for repeatable cone 10 results.
by John Britt 2004
4.49
138 ratings
Creative Selection
by Ken Kocienda • 2018
How Apple's engineers really worked: no sudden genius, just relentless demos and decisive taste.
4.05
5k+
Creative Selection Summary
Creative Selection 87%
How Apple's engineers really worked: no sudden genius, just relentless demos and decisive taste.
by Ken Kocienda 2018
4.05
5k+ 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 87%
What separates great scientists from good ones: they pick better problems.
by Richard W. Hamming 1996
4.18
2k+ 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 87%
Why most large websites feel like a maze, and the craft of making them findable.
by Peter Morville 1998
3.93
4k+ 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 87%
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
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 87%
The $121 billion congestion tax: what the history of pavement says about fixing America's roads.
by Henry Petroski 2016
3.44
529 ratings
Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned
by Kenneth O. Stanley • 2015
Ambitious objectives blind you to the very discoveries that make them obsolete.
3.98
1k+
Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned Summary
Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned 87%
Ambitious objectives blind you to the very discoveries that make them obsolete.
by Kenneth O. Stanley 2015
3.98
1k+ ratings
To Forgive Design
by Henry Petroski • 2012
The safest bridges and planes are designed by studying the ones that fell down.
3.53
217
To Forgive Design Summary
To Forgive Design 87%
The safest bridges and planes are designed by studying the ones that fell down.
by Henry Petroski 2012
3.53
217 ratings
Design Systems
by Alla Kholmatova • 2017
Your pattern library is not a design system. Shared language and team practices close the gap.
4.13
608
Design Systems Summary
Design Systems 87%
Your pattern library is not a design system. Shared language and team practices close the gap.
by Alla Kholmatova 2017
4.13
608 ratings
Product Design for the Web
by Randy J. Hunt • 2013
Why shipping early and designing the invisible parts matters more than getting the pixels right.
3.76
278
Product Design for the Web Summary
Product Design for the Web 87%
Why shipping early and designing the invisible parts matters more than getting the pixels right.
by Randy J. Hunt 2013
3.76
278 ratings
Structural Analysis
by Russell C. Hibbeler • 1982
Trusses, beams, and frames: how to find every force and deflection inside them before they're built.
4.10
424
Structural Analysis Summary
Structural Analysis 87%
Trusses, beams, and frames: how to find every force and deflection inside them before they're built.
by Russell C. Hibbeler 1982
4.10
424 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 87%
Most design fixes problems. This design invents fictional worlds to test-drive better ones.
by Anthony Dunne 2013
4.12
999 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 87%
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 87%
Technology is nature harnessed, then endlessly recombined. Each invention fuels the next.
by W. Brian Arthur 2009
3.95
858 ratings
Design for a Better World
by Donald A. Norman • 2023
Everything around you was designed: economy, waste, climate. Design can repair what it broke.
3.61
198
Design for a Better World Summary
Design for a Better World 87%
Everything around you was designed: economy, waste, climate. Design can repair what it broke.
by Donald A. Norman 2023
3.61
198 ratings
Mobile First
by Luke Wroblewski • 2011
Eighty percent less screen space forces decisions that make your product better on every device.
3.90
2k+
Mobile First Summary
Mobile First 87%
Eighty percent less screen space forces decisions that make your product better on every device.
by Luke Wroblewski 2011
3.90
2k+ ratings
The Path of Least Resistance
by Robert Fritz • 1989
Problem solving oscillates. Creating resolves. Your underlying structure decides which you live.
4.06
2k+
The Path of Least Resistance Summary
The Path of Least Resistance 87%
Problem solving oscillates. Creating resolves. Your underlying structure decides which you live.
by Robert Fritz 1989
4.06
2k+ ratings
Invent To Learn
by Sylvia Libow Martinez • 2013
How to trade direct instruction for iterative design, physical making, and real student ownership.
4.17
803
Invent To Learn Summary
Invent To Learn 87%
How to trade direct instruction for iterative design, physical making, and real student ownership.
by Sylvia Libow Martinez 2013
4.17
803 ratings
Content Design
by Sarah Richards • 2017
Stop writing, start designing: a research-first way to make content that users actually need.
4.31
734
Content Design Summary
Content Design 87%
Stop writing, start designing: a research-first way to make content that users actually need.
by Sarah Richards 2017
4.31
734 ratings
What Would Apple Do?
by Dirk Beckmann • 2013
The design and business rules Apple uses to dominate industries, and how to steal them.
3.21
43
What Would Apple Do? Summary
What Would Apple Do? 87%
The design and business rules Apple uses to dominate industries, and how to steal them.
by Dirk Beckmann 2013
3.21
43 ratings
Make
by Charles Platt • 2008
From Ohm's Law to Arduino: learn electronics by building, breaking, and fixing circuits.
4.27
1k+
Make Summary
Make 87%
From Ohm's Law to Arduino: learn electronics by building, breaking, and fixing circuits.
by Charles Platt 2008
4.27
1k+ ratings
Refactoring UI
by Adam Wathan • 2018
Why developers build ugly interfaces, and the constraint system that fixes them.
4.65
2k+
Refactoring UI Summary
Refactoring UI 87%
Why developers build ugly interfaces, and the constraint system that fixes them.
by Adam Wathan 2018
4.65
2k+ ratings
The Sciences of the Artificial
by Herbert A. Simon • 1969
A science of the artificial: how constrained minds design systems that work in a complex world.
4.29
669
The Sciences of the Artificial Summary
The Sciences of the Artificial 87%
A science of the artificial: how constrained minds design systems that work in a complex world.
by Herbert A. Simon 1969
4.29
669 ratings
A Project Guide to UX Design
by Russ Unger • 2009
The methods and documents that carry a UX project from first requirement to final design.
3.87
2k+
A Project Guide to UX Design Summary
A Project Guide to UX Design 87%
The methods and documents that carry a UX project from first requirement to final design.
by Russ Unger 2009
3.87
2k+ ratings
Information Is Beautiful
by David McCandless • 2001
Concept is the secret: why a simple, clever data drawing can reveal more than a supercomputer.
4.12
4k+
Information Is Beautiful Summary
Information Is Beautiful 87%
Concept is the secret: why a simple, clever data drawing can reveal more than a supercomputer.
by David McCandless 2001
4.12
4k+ ratings
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