An Engineer's Alphabet
Gleanings from the Softer Side of a Profession

Written by America's most famous engineering educator, this abecedarium is a selection of thoughts, quotations and anecdotes from his profession.

Henry Petroski (Author)

9781107015067, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 10 October 2011

368 pages, 40 b/w illus.
18.5 x 12.1 x 2.1 cm, 0.38 kg

'This book provides a wealth of background information that will be useful as well as entertaining. It is just as appropriate for a library shelf as it is for whiling away an hour or two during a train or plane journey.' Steve Webster, IOM3 Materials World magazine

Written by America's most famous engineering storyteller and educator, this abecedarium is one engineer's selection of thoughts, quotations, anecdotes, facts, trivia and arcana relating to the practice, history, culture and traditions of his profession. The entries reflect decades of reading, writing, talking and thinking about engineers and engineering, and range from brief essays to lists of great engineering achievements. This work is organized alphabetically and more like a dictionary than an encyclopedia. It is not intended to be read from first page to last, but rather to be dipped into, here and there, as the mood strikes the reader. In time, it is hoped, this book should become the source to which readers go first when they encounter a vague or obscure reference to the softer side of engineering.

Key engineering terms, A–Z.

Subject Areas: History of engineering & technology [TBX], Engineering: general [TBC], History of science [PDX]