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Experience may be the best way to learn a lesson, but non-fiction books record, preserve and pass down the accumulated knowledge that goes beyond the technical concepts learned from textbooks. Not only do we learn from mistakes and failures of the past, but more importantly, appreciate the work invested in each breakthrough.
In this article, you’ll find a compiled list of books to read that will help aspiring engineers develop their engineering mindset. These books are the most frequently recommended on various engineering websites, as well as comparing the publications and sales from various channels.
Originally published in 1988 as The Psychology of Everyday Things, this Revised and Expanded edition shows that design usability (“user-centered”) and affordance are just as important as aesthetics. Highlights of this book are the Seven Stages of Action which provides the readers a systematic and insightful guide on how to design and build objects in the “best” way.
If you are looking for an informal yet informative take on structures, stress, torsion, and similar concepts that affect a structure’s stability, this book showcases a clear and cogent discussion on the technology and mechanics involved in construction — from everyday tools to amazing engineering marvels.
From simple everyday objects to large and complex design failures, Henry Petroski presents and explores the reasons behind design and structure failure. By exposing engineering failures, Petroski presents that failure is always a part of the learning opportunity and progress, not just in engineering but in life in general as well.
Though focused on mechanical analysis of materials, fatigue, and failure involving racing car technology, the book offers a great mechanical engineering reference, especially for those involved in fabrication for racing. The book also tackles aerodynamics, breaks, heat treatments, tools, and more.
Samuel Florman explores how engineers view and feel about the engineering profession. Contrary to the typical belief that engineering is technical, cold, and passionless, the author presents a new perspective that will give the readers a practical and creative take on the engineering profession.
A refreshing insight into the life of Elon Musk, the book is a biography gathered from Vance’s interviews with Musk and people close to him. Expect to learn more about Musk’s childhood from the time he spent at PayPal and Zip2 up to Tesla, SpaceX, and SolarCity.
In this timeless self-help book, the readers will find tested and proven approaches on how to “win and convince” people to “join their way of thinking” and to subtly but surely change the reader’s perspective on communication and people dynamics. The book is useful for engineers working on a team, managing a project, or revitalizing an organization to achieve goals.
Thought process and problem-solving skills are key characteristics that an engineer needs to hone and develop. Actual experiences of people who achieved huge successes and spectacular feats are analyzed and presented in this book to provoke and develop a thinking pattern that will help the reader function as a problem solver and achieve successful results.
Though engineering fields have made huge progress with the development of machines and artificial intelligence, it is the engineer’s human component and infinite creative potential that’s irreplaceable by any technological advancements.
Advances in civilization are parallel with the evolution of engineering and technology — from simple basic innovations, we use in our daily lives to the more bizarre and ambitious ventures towards space exploration.
Wiley (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), McGraw Hill Education, Elsevier, Allen and Unwin, and Nelson Education are leading publication houses that publish primarily academic, non-fiction, and professional works suitable for engineering and scientific fields.
Other reputable University Publishing arms such as Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Purdue University Press, and the like, publish books and magazines that are read by academic professionals, students, and general readers.
People who would like to pursue engineering must have an innate eagerness for solving mathematical problems with critical thinking skills.
There are different types of engineering fields. For chemical engineering, for instance, the underlying fundamentals are chemistry, physics, and biology. Chemical engineers are most adept with thermodynamics, transport phenomena, physical chemistry, and chemical reaction engineering.
