Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down
Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down
Author: J.E. Gordon
Desc: In a book that Business Insider noted as one of the "14 Books that inspired Elon Musk " J.E. Gordon strips engineering of its confusing technical terms communicating its founding principles in accessible witty prose. For anyone who has ever wondered why suspension bridges don't collapse under eight lanes of traffic how dams hold back--or give way under--thousands of gallons of water or what principles guide the design of a skyscraper a bias-cut dress or a kangaroo this book will ease your anxiety and answer your questions. Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down is an informal explanation of the basic forces that hold together the ordinary and essential things of this world--from buildings and bodies to flying aircraft and eggshells. In a style that combines wit a masterful command of his subject and an encyclopedic range of reference Gordon includes such chapters as "How to Design a Worm" and "The Advantage of Being a Beam " offering humorous insights in human and natural creation. Architects and engineers will appreciate the clear and cogent explanations of the concepts of stress shear torsion fracture and compression. If you're building a house a sailboat or a catapult here is a handy tool for understanding the mechanics of joinery floors ceilings hulls masts--or flying buttresses. Without jargon or oversimplification Structures opens up the marvels of technology to anyone interested in the foundations of our everyday lives.