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Engineering Mechanics
by Russell C. Hibbeler • 1992
From particles to rigid bodies: a methodical path through statics, dynamics, and vibrations.
4.06
205
Engineering Mechanics Summary
Engineering Mechanics 90%
From particles to rigid bodies: a methodical path through statics, dynamics, and vibrations.
by Russell C. Hibbeler 1992
4.06
205 ratings
Car Science
by Richard Hammond • 2008
From chemical explosions to downforce: the physics that makes cars go, stop, and nearly take flight.
4.44
144
Car Science Summary
Car Science 90%
From chemical explosions to downforce: the physics that makes cars go, stop, and nearly take flight.
by Richard Hammond 2008
4.44
144 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 90%
From cylinders to microchips: the hidden pursuit of perfect smoothness that built the modern world.
by Simon Winchester 2018
4.15
7k+ ratings
Mechatronics
by W. Bolton • 1996
A design philosophy where mechanics, electronics, and software are concurrent, not sequential.
4.10
550
Mechatronics Summary
Mechatronics 89%
A design philosophy where mechanics, electronics, and software are concurrent, not sequential.
by W. Bolton 1996
4.10
550 ratings
How Technology Works
by D.K. Publishing • 2019
A visual tour of the physics inside your phone, your microwave, and the power grid.
4.33
166
How Technology Works Summary
How Technology Works 89%
A visual tour of the physics inside your phone, your microwave, and the power grid.
by D.K. Publishing 2019
4.33
166 ratings
Engineering in Plain Sight
by Grady Hillhouse • 2022
An illustrated field guide to the engineering secrets embedded in every street, pole, and bridge.
4.20
856
Engineering in Plain Sight Summary
Engineering in Plain Sight 89%
An illustrated field guide to the engineering secrets embedded in every street, pole, and bridge.
by Grady Hillhouse 2022
4.20
856 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 89%
Civilization runs on maintenance nobody sees, values, or funds. Until it stops.
by Stewart Brand 2026
4.00
516 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 89%
Science explains; engineering creates. When we confuse the two, our biggest problems get harder.
by Henry Petroski 2010
3.37
270 ratings
Modern Software Engineering
by David Farley • 2021
Software is not a craft; it's a science. The discipline that turns teams into learning machines.
4.16
1k+
Modern Software Engineering Summary
Modern Software Engineering 89%
Software is not a craft; it's a science. The discipline that turns teams into learning machines.
by David Farley 2021
4.16
1k+ 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 88%
Technology is nature harnessed, then endlessly recombined. Each invention fuels the next.
by W. Brian Arthur 2009
3.95
858 ratings
Everyday Chaos
by David Weinberger • 2019
A medical AI diagnoses illness but can't explain how. The age of demanding explanations is over.
3.78
202
Everyday Chaos Summary
Everyday Chaos 88%
A medical AI diagnoses illness but can't explain how. The age of demanding explanations is over.
by David Weinberger 2019
3.78
202 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
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 88%
Paper clips, fax machines, bridges: what their shortcomings reveal about the logic of engineering.
by Petroski 1996
3.75
351 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 88%
Engineering isn't applied science: it's the art of solving problems before anyone understands them.
by Bill Hammack 2023
3.75
1k+ ratings
Operating Systems
by William Stallings • 1991
How UNIX, Linux, and Solaris kernels work inside: from fork() to page faults.
3.72
421
Operating Systems Summary
Operating Systems 88%
How UNIX, Linux, and Solaris kernels work inside: from fork() to page faults.
by William Stallings 1991
3.72
421 ratings
The Systems Bible
by John Gall • 1977
Every system malfunctions and fights its own purpose. The counterintuitive guide to surviving them.
3.99
1k+
The Systems Bible Summary
The Systems Bible 88%
Every system malfunctions and fights its own purpose. The counterintuitive guide to surviving them.
by John Gall 1977
3.99
1k+ ratings
HVAC Tips 101
by Marvin Ray Williams • 2021
The filter, breaker, and drain checks that solve most HVAC problems before you call.
3.00
2
HVAC Tips 101 Summary
HVAC Tips 101 88%
The filter, breaker, and drain checks that solve most HVAC problems before you call.
by Marvin Ray Williams 2021
3.00
2 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 88%
From Ohm's Law to Arduino: learn electronics by building, breaking, and fixing circuits.
by Charles Platt 2008
4.27
1k+ ratings
The Design of the UNIX Operating System
by Maurice J. Bach • 1986
What actually happens between the shell prompt and the hardware: the Unix kernel explained.
4.25
605
The Design of the UNIX Operating System Summary
The Design of the UNIX Operating System 88%
What actually happens between the shell prompt and the hardware: the Unix kernel explained.
by Maurice J. Bach 1986
4.25
605 ratings
An Introduction to General Systems Thinking
by Gerald M. Weinberg • 1975
Stability is not a property of a system but a contract it negotiates with its environment.
3.94
671
An Introduction to General Systems Thinking Summary
An Introduction to General Systems Thinking 88%
Stability is not a property of a system but a contract it negotiates with its environment.
by Gerald M. Weinberg 1975
3.94
671 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
The Control Revolution
by James R. Beniger • 1986
Steam outran human control. The century-long scramble to catch up invented modern data processing.
4.16
112
The Control Revolution Summary
The Control Revolution 88%
Steam outran human control. The century-long scramble to catch up invented modern data processing.
by James R. Beniger 1986
4.16
112 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 88%
The $121 billion congestion tax: what the history of pavement says about fixing America's roads.
by Henry Petroski 2016
3.44
529 ratings
The Driving Machine
by Witold Rybczynski • 2024
How art, war, and ego shaped the car, from the Model T to the Tesla.
3.82
197
The Driving Machine Summary
The Driving Machine 88%
How art, war, and ego shaped the car, from the Model T to the Tesla.
by Witold Rybczynski 2024
3.82
197 ratings
The Art of Electronics
by Paul Horowitz • 1980
Learn the craft electronics textbooks leave out: from biasing transistors to taming noise.
4.40
2k+
The Art of Electronics Summary
The Art of Electronics 88%
Learn the craft electronics textbooks leave out: from biasing transistors to taming noise.
by Paul Horowitz 1980
4.40
2k+ 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 88%
The safest bridges and planes are designed by studying the ones that fell down.
by Henry Petroski 2012
3.53
217 ratings
Ansible
by Lorin Hochstein • 2014
No agents required. Automate configuration and deployment with playbooks you can actually read.
3.88
270
Ansible Summary
Ansible 88%
No agents required. Automate configuration and deployment with playbooks you can actually read.
by Lorin Hochstein 2014
3.88
270 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 88%
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 88%
A pencil hides centuries of engineering failures, global trade, and the secret to good design.
by Henry Petroski 1992
3.80
657 ratings
Release It!
by Michael T. Nygard • 2007
QA says your software is ready. Production disagrees. The patterns that close the gap.
4.25
3k+
Release It! Summary
Release It! 88%
QA says your software is ready. Production disagrees. The patterns that close the gap.
by Michael T. Nygard 2007
4.25
3k+ ratings
Site Reliability Engineering
by Betsy Beyer • 2016
Google's operations playbook: why perfect uptime is the wrong target, and what to build instead.
4.21
3k+
Site Reliability Engineering Summary
Site Reliability Engineering 88%
Google's operations playbook: why perfect uptime is the wrong target, and what to build instead.
by Betsy Beyer 2016
4.21
3k+ ratings
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
by Steven H. Strogatz • 1994
How simple rules produce unpredictable motion, and the pictures that reveal the hidden order.
4.38
2k+
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Summary
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos 88%
How simple rules produce unpredictable motion, and the pictures that reveal the hidden order.
by Steven H. Strogatz 1994
4.38
2k+ ratings
To Engineer Is Human
by Henry Petroski • 1985
Every disaster is a lesson plan. Bridges stay up because engineers study the ones that fell.
3.69
3k+
To Engineer Is Human Summary
To Engineer Is Human 88%
Every disaster is a lesson plan. Bridges stay up because engineers study the ones that fell.
by Henry Petroski 1985
3.69
3k+ ratings
How Linux Works
by Brian Ward • 2004
Linux hides nothing. Its internals are legible, learnable, and waiting for you to take control.
4.18
1k+
How Linux Works Summary
How Linux Works 88%
Linux hides nothing. Its internals are legible, learnable, and waiting for you to take control.
by Brian Ward 2004
4.18
1k+ 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
Linux Kernel Development
by Robert Love • 2003
Linux has no threads, only tasks, and a red-black tree keeps the CPU fair.
4.34
877
Linux Kernel Development Summary
Linux Kernel Development 88%
Linux has no threads, only tasks, and a red-black tree keeps the CPU fair.
by Robert Love 2003
4.34
877 ratings
Success through Failure
by Henry Petroski • 2006
Every triumph contains the seed of its collapse; the art of design is spotting it early.
3.60
201
Success through Failure Summary
Success through Failure 88%
Every triumph contains the seed of its collapse; the art of design is spotting it early.
by Henry Petroski 2006
3.60
201 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
How to Diagnose and Fix Everything Electronic
by Michael Jay Geier • 2010
Diagnose the silent failure, read the schematic, fix it yourself. No engineering degree required.
3.93
367
How to Diagnose and Fix Everything Electronic Summary
How to Diagnose and Fix Everything Electronic 88%
Diagnose the silent failure, read the schematic, fix it yourself. No engineering degree required.
by Michael Jay Geier 2010
3.93
367 ratings
Chaos
by James Gleick • 1987
A rounding error revealed that chaos hides order. The discovery reshaped what science can predict.
4.03
41k+
Chaos Summary
Chaos 88%
A rounding error revealed that chaos hides order. The discovery reshaped what science can predict.
by James Gleick 1987
4.03
41k+ ratings
General System Theory
by Ludwig Von Bertalanffy • 1969
Cells, companies, and civilizations obey the same organizational laws: the biologist who proved it.
3.87
438
General System Theory Summary
General System Theory 88%
Cells, companies, and civilizations obey the same organizational laws: the biologist who proved it.
by Ludwig Von Bertalanffy 1969
3.87
438 ratings
Technopoly
by Neil Postman • 1992
When a culture worships its tools, the old stories that held it together quietly disappear.
3.97
5k+
Technopoly Summary
Technopoly 88%
When a culture worships its tools, the old stories that held it together quietly disappear.
by Neil Postman 1992
3.97
5k+ ratings
Debugging
by David J. Agans • 2002
Learn to debug like a detective: reproduce the crime, divide the scene, and never guess.
4.26
509
Debugging Summary
Debugging 88%
Learn to debug like a detective: reproduce the crime, divide the scene, and never guess.
by David J. Agans 2002
4.26
509 ratings
Complexity
by Melanie Mitchell • 2009
Simple rules produce the complexity of ant colonies, brains, and economies. The science of how.
4.11
4k+
Complexity Summary
Complexity 88%
Simple rules produce the complexity of ant colonies, brains, and economies. The science of how.
by Melanie Mitchell 2009
4.11
4k+ ratings
Anti-Tech Revolution
by Theodore John Kaczynski • 2016
The technological world system is a self-driving machine no one steers and nothing stops.
3.95
630
Anti-Tech Revolution Summary
Anti-Tech Revolution 88%
The technological world system is a self-driving machine no one steers and nothing stops.
by Theodore John Kaczynski 2016
3.95
630 ratings
UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook
by Evi Nemeth • 2010
Every script, service, and subnet: the Unix and Linux admin's survival manual.
4.45
993
UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook Summary
UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook 88%
Every script, service, and subnet: the Unix and Linux admin's survival manual.
by Evi Nemeth 2010
4.45
993 ratings
Computer Power and Human Reason
by Joseph Weizenbaum • 1976
The computer's greatest danger isn't outthinking us; it's that we'll remake ourselves in its image.
4.31
294
Computer Power and Human Reason Summary
Computer Power and Human Reason 88%
The computer's greatest danger isn't outthinking us; it's that we'll remake ourselves in its image.
by Joseph Weizenbaum 1976
4.31
294 ratings
How to Invent Everything
by Ryan North • 2018
Stranded in the past with nothing but your wits, and the flowchart says you're before 50,000 BCE.
4.14
6k+
How to Invent Everything Summary
How to Invent Everything 88%
Stranded in the past with nothing but your wits, and the flowchart says you're before 50,000 BCE.
by Ryan North 2018
4.14
6k+ ratings
A Game Design Vocabulary
by Anna Anthropy • 2013
The grammar of game design: how to script a back-and-forth that players lose themselves in.
3.94
134
A Game Design Vocabulary Summary
A Game Design Vocabulary 88%
The grammar of game design: how to script a back-and-forth that players lose themselves in.
by Anna Anthropy 2013
3.94
134 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 88%
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
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