To engineer is human by Henry Petroski [rare books]

Book Summary:

To Engineer Is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design by Henry Petroski is a seminal work that explores the intricate relationship between engineering design and the inevitability of failure. Petroski, a distinguished civil engineer and author, delves into how design failures—such as the collapse of the Kansas City Hyatt Regency walkways and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge disaster—serve as pivotal learning experiences that drive innovation and improvement in engineering practices. Through these case studies, he illustrates that engineering is not merely about technical prowess but also about understanding and learning from mistakes to enhance future designs. 

The book emphasizes that failure is an integral part of the engineering process, challenging the traditional notion that engineering is solely about achieving perfection. Petroski argues that embracing failure allows engineers to refine their designs, leading to more robust and reliable outcomes. This perspective encourages a deeper appreciation of the complexities involved in engineering and the continuous cycle of trial, error, and improvement that characterizes the field.

About the Author: 

Henry Petroski (1942–2023) was an American engineer, educator, and prolific author renowned for his insightful writings on the history and philosophy of engineering. He earned his B.S. from Manhattan College in 1963 and his Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1968. Petroski held faculty positions at the University of Texas at Austin and Argonne National Laboratory before joining Duke University in 1980, where he served as a professor of civil engineering and history. 

Throughout his career, Petroski authored over a dozen books, including The Pencil, The Evolution of Useful Things, and The Toothpick, each examining the design and history of everyday objects. His writing style made complex engineering concepts accessible to a general audience, earning him the moniker "poet laureate of technology." Petroski's work has had a lasting impact on how engineering is perceived, emphasizing the importance of design, failure, and learning in the advancement of the field.