Engineering and the Mind's Eye [Paperback]

Eugene S. Ferguson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 026256078X | ISBN-13: 978-0262560788 | Publication Date: March 29, 1994

The things that engineers design are everywhere, and the influence that engineers have on daily life is far out of proportion to their numbers. In this expanded version of a remarkable essay published in Science more than a decade ago, Eugene Ferguson takes a probing look at the process of engineering design, arguing that despite modern technical advances, good engineering is still as much a matter of intuition and nonverbal thinking as of equations and computation.Ferguson, who has been successively a mechanical engineer, a technical museum curator, and a teacher of the history of technology, uses examples ranging from the development of the American axe to the collapse of the Hartford Coliseum and the performance of the Hubble space telescope to illustrate the ways in which visual thinking enriches engineering and the ways in which engineering that relies solely on technical sophistication can go wrong. He argues that a system of engineering education that ignores this heritage of nonverbal thinking will produce engineers who are dangerously ignorant of the many ways in which the real world differs from the mathematical models constructed in academic minds.In Engineering and the Mind's Eye, Ferguson discusses the nature of engineering design and traces the development of visual and other nonverbal thinking, offering examples of how engineers and other technologists have used such strategies since the Renaissance. Accompanying these examples, and demonstrating the ways in which engineers have shared their knowledge, is a parallel text of illustrations showing how visual thinking has been expressed over the past five centuries. Ferguson concludes his provocative account by arguing that engineering education since 1945 has been skewed toward analytical techniques - which are easiest to teach and evaluate - and away from the art of engineering design as taught by experienced engineers.Eugene Ferguson is Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Delaware.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A sophisticated, thoughtful, and provocative analysis of thenature of engineering." Steven Lubar , Science

Like many a 'little book' by a master, the reader will find it overflowing with ideas and insights. It is a book that will reward many rereadings." Henry Petroski , Duke University

About the Author

Eugene Ferguson is Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Delaware.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (March 29, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 026256078X
• ISBN-13: 978-0262560788
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #577,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Engineering Students, June 18, 2000

By 

Eric - See all my reviews

This review is from: Engineering and the Mind's Eye (Paperback)

This book is great for students who are thinking of persuing a course in engineering. Ferguson adresses what makes a great engineer, and also states that many schools do not stress the courses they should. Using this book, students gain insight as to what they should expect from being an engineer, and what is imporant in the profession. I definately recommend this book to those who are about to be college freshman engineers or are thinking of changing over from liberal arts & sciences to engineering.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As Uncle Albert once said, "IMAGINATION...., September 27, 2000

By 

Neal Maben "waterdog" (Lakeview, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Engineering and the Mind's Eye (Paperback)

...is more important than knowledge." This fine book examines the deep roots of this simple and wise truth. The author takes us on a journey of discovery within our [engineering] profession and shows us where we originated from, and [unfortunately] where we are headed. The author has the courage to come out and say what many, if not most, in the field of engineering would like to say, but for one reason or another have not: Academia is producing more and more clinical analysts, and less and less true engineers. He examines and clarifies the difference between the two and goes on to explain how we have arrived at this strange place so far away from the road that we should be on. He further offers some of, but certainly not all, the solutions for getting ourselves back on track as a profession.

I found this book to be wonderfully entertaining and incredibly insightful about the field(s) of engineering and how we think, communicate, advance in our profession(s). Being a graduating senior in a dying breed of EEETs at Montana State University, I have generally found the author profoundly on the mark, and recommend this book for everyone even associated with the field of engineering and most especially, the educators!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking, January 8, 2001

By 

Guy Randell "grandell" (Pleasantville, NY USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Engineering and the Mind's Eye (Paperback)

A short, nicely written book. A must read for those with an interest in history of technology, engineering or education. Time well spent for almost any intellegent reader. A lot of "bang for your buck" with this one!