Customer Reviews

Design of Machine Elements (7th Edition)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This book is so full of errors it is unbelieveable that it is a seventh edition. Examples are non existant in relation to problem assignments. Those that are given are full of errors either from the author or the typesetter. The solution manual IN ADDITION to this text are required to get any sort of learning from it. It is definately not worth the price that the publisher sets. If you are looking for a text for a college class, look somewhere else.

This book is so terrible that, if you are enrolled in a class for which this is the required text, i suggest that you drop the class or demand another reference from your professor. During my undergraduate curriculum I used this textbook for 2 seperate college courses on machine design, and so feel qualified to say that this is by far the worst textbook I have dealt with in my whole academic career. The 8th edition is full of even more errors than the 7th edition, so much so that it is almost laughable that the author even SUPPLIES "answers" for his chapter questions. Numbers are wrong, equations are incorrect and references to tables and graphics are abhorrent. The book is notorious for, in text explanations and sample problems, referring to uncited charts and graphs that are either no longer in the book or are hundreds of pages ahead. Good luck finding them. Errors aside, the book is an incoherent sampling of approximation techniques that may be suitable for the occasional industry user but are unacceptable for somebody seeking knowledge and understanding. Please do not reward the publisher with ANY money for this book.

This is one of the worst books I've ever read for the design of machine components. Not only are there hardly any sample problems, the book is filled with errors.The authors shown no sign of consistancey or process for any of the problems that are worked out. If you want to learn the design of machine components, I strongly suggest learning it from another book.

The Newer Edition of this books has many errors, too numerous to list. Most of the errors are due to the newer computer graphics the publisher used. In the 6th edition the formulas and graphics were of good quality black and white drawings and print. Now, in the 8th Edition, the publisher is using color graphics that are reproduced in the text as grey scale. It is sometimes very hard to read the drawings because they are too busy. The formulas have been redone using the computer and not enough attention was used to make sure these are correct. The authors also tried to make use of excel sheets from the CD supplied. Using Excel, in my opinion, is much better then using a custom program that you will never use again. In making such a good CD the author has taken out many of the formulas and has now made it difficult to read this book while not in front of a computer. This is not the worst text book I have seen, it does have some good points. The 7th edition is much better, and if you really would like to get a book on Machine Design use Juvinall 2nd Edition

Shoup's attempt to continue Spott's legacy is admirable, but wreckless. The frequent errors ruin the author's credability. The author fails to provide adequate information in his examples and the data seems to mysteriously appear. Integration of the CD-ROM program diminishes a proper foundation of the material presented. The CD-ROM also requires Excel '97, and has no usable directory. In my opinion, the book can deter a student's interest and unsteady a firm base of education. $100 ???!!!

As a student of mechanical engineering technology at a state college, I am used to using inferior study materials and dealing with incompetent professors. If that isn't enough, I think this book insults me. I would no sooner spend $100.00 on this book than use a stack of 100 $1.00 bills to fix the broken leg on my coffee table. As a tip, look to earlier additions of this book where the term "CD rom" is never mentioned.

The above was assigned as a text book in a college course. After spending many hours and staring at formulas that did not make any sense, we found out that the book is full of fundamental errors (this fact was confirmed by my Professor). The impression I got from the publisher and the author was that this book has been written for the soul purpose of revenue generation and not for educational purposes. I think the author needs to edit the book one more time (I have the Seventh edition).

i ordered this book the friday before 4th of july and i received it the day after. there was only page with the corner folded and one or two pages wit light pencil notes. but otherwise the book was perfect! and the CD was in the back untouched! would definitely buy again!

I am a current Engineering Tech. student who is currently taking the Design of Machine Elements course at my school, and I feel that I am losing all of the hard work I have done in trying to understand the fundamentals of Engineering Mechanics with this book. I feel that I can not even trust this book in what it says. It is such a shame. The worst book I have ever used and quite dangerous to a young student who is still trying to understand fully the fundamentals of engineering mechanics.

I'm a MET student and used the 7th edition of this book. It was horrible, a lot of mistakes. Hope you have a good instructor because you'll need it with this book.