Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down

I’m a chartered mechanical engineer and chief engineer. This book is the best thing I’ve read that gives a deep and intuitive understanding of how materials behave free of the mathematics that customarily is used to teach these subjects and often bores rather than enlightens. I’ve recommended this to young engineers who have degrees but don’t have a ‘feel’ for design. I think it would also be useful for the lay reader. I can’t recommend this book enough.

Fascinating. I thought it was all so obvious really but engineering is a science based on trial and error and many years of history. I bought this a one of a number of recommended background reading books for my nephew starting a Mechanical Engineering degree and got to read it whilst he was looking at the others. I’m told it’s a great book for any engineering student.

The content is first class and the book is worth buying. The book itself, however, is a classic case of bad engineering design, as it won't open and lie flat. Reading it is a constant battle with the binding. A hundred years ago, books were bound so that they could be read in comfort. Why will publishers not do this now ? They are all cheapskates: that's why. And the photos are very badly printed. What was the excuse for this ?

I'm a structural engineer and took this book on holiday as a "light read", but I must say I was blown away both with Gordons style and ease of reading. I didn't expect to actually learn anything, but I did - and quite a bit too. His explanation of the maths involved was quite refreshing; very gentle introduction with many steps along the way. I very much enjoyed the classical foundation to many of the chapters. If you have even the slightest interest in engineering, I recommend this book wholeheartedly. If you have any hesitation because you may think this book too heavy or technical, then I say NO. It is a superbly written teatise of the histroy and breadth of structural engineering with a lot of history thrown in. You'll never look at a a simple arch the same way :) A superb book.

Gordon’s book remains an indispensable guide for both early students of civil and structural engineering as well as anyone interested in structures. It’s not heavy on mathematics, it explains basic themes like stress and strain better than any other serious publication, and is full of interesting facts. Unlike most engineering publications, it is written beautifully with warmth, humour, respect for the intelligence of the reader, and no little literary skill. Cannot recommend it highly enough.

The recipient is in 3rd year engineering and thoroughly enjoying this book in that it brings old and new back to the basic math and even makes it as simple as possible for the layman .. He tells me a great choice and a most interesting read

Very insightful book, the principles behind structural engineering has been captured well, going through the mathmatic fundamentals and how equations that we use today were derived and how they are critical to the very fabric of life as everything that exist has some form of structure towards it. This is the road in which I was hoping the book would go towards, explaining how engineers take inspiration off nature, which it has touched upon, but the for the most parts it was just felt like reading an engineering book that you would need for your univeristy lectures. wished it dived a bit more into the story and real life example areas, as the very technical side of the book whilst interesting tends to drag and get a bit boring....

excellent book, not a text book, its more like someone actually talking to you about engineering, having a conversation with you, so its easy to understand, very easy. its also not boring, especially if your studying civil engineering i would really recommend it. its got some pictures and diagrams, and stories about how engineers used to do things and how they have learned to do them now. good book

I love this book! As a mechanical engineer student i hate structural analysis. This book explains the structural analysis in a very easy way, and it even goes far beyond. You will learn about the history of structural analysis, dynamik etc. and their inventor. I read it in one weekend. Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down is on the must read list of Elon Musk...what more should i tell. For all non native english speaker: The english is level B2-C1

un livre qui fait le lien entre le comportement mecanique des materiaux et le comportement des structures. Les exemples et anecdotes sont piochés dans des domaines variés : genie civil, construction naval, aeronautique, tissus, matière vivante ... et illustre très bien les propos de l'auteur. Les exemples sont placés dans une perspective historique que j'ai trouvé très interessante. L'auteur fait genereusement part de ces idées et experiences. Très pedagogique et agreable a lire. Un excellent livre d'introduction à la science des matériaux et à la macanique des strucures.

Recomendable

Kitapta herhangi bir hasar yok, kargolama gayet iyi. Rahatsız olduğum iki nokta var: yazı fontu uzun okumada gözü yorabilir ve baskı kalıcılığı sanıyorum biraz zayıf. Hafif bir silgi kullanımında yazı hasar gördü. Konuya gelince, yazar "yapı" kavramına çok ilginç bir noktadan yaklaşmış. Her mühendisin okuması gereken bir kitap kesinlikle. Henüz giriş bölümünde "iyi ki karşıma çıkmış" dedim bu kitap için. Tek kelime ile harika.

Very well done.