Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down [Paperback]

J.e. Gordon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0306812835 | ISBN-13: 978-0306812835 | Publication Date: July 8, 2003 | Edition: 1

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 or a kangaroo, this book will ease your anxiety and answer your questions. J. E. Gordon strips engineering of its confusing technical terms, communicating its founding principles in accessible, witty prose.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

J. E. Gordon, a professor at the University of Reading, is renowned for his research in plastics, crystals, and new materials.

Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; 1 edition (July 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306812835
• ISBN-13: 978-0306812835
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding! Basic engineering done with history and humor., November 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down (Paperback)

My boss gave me this book when I arrived at my first job, and it changed the way I saw the world. It covers the basics of structural engineering from cathedrals to clothing, and does so with a blend of historical references and dry British humor that makes it delightful to read. Only basic math is used. The emphasis is on the basic principles (tension, compression, shear, etc.)and how they apply to real-world examples, ranging from bridge trusses to bias-cut fabrics and bat wings. I'd recommend this book for anyone who's curious about how things work. My sole complaint is that this edition is a bit bulky and might seem intimidating, but that's because the print is fairly large. I preferred the earlier British Penguin edition which was much more compact.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent layman's overview or engineer's refresher, January 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down (Paperback)

I first read both Structures and Gordon's other book, The New Science of Strong Materials, in the early '80's. I have read them several times since, and am constantly trying to find them because I keep giving them away to people. When I read Gordon's explanations of the history and present state of the engineering art, I look at things as diverse as cathedrals and dogs' bladders in a new way. I remember my training in the more equation-heavy disciplines, and I can compare my 16 years of experience in engineering to the words in the book and say, "Oh yes, that's just the way it is," or "Oh, so that's why that happened. Too bad I didn't think of it at the time."

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clear, Concise, It makes the Complex easily Understood, July 11, 2001

By 

J. head (littlteton, nh USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down (Paperback)

This book could even give Stress Analysis a good name. The author does an exceedingly good job of explaining the property or behavior of a material. He then proceeds to demonstrate the direct relationship between the properties and how the material is utilized and how it affects of the overall design of the structure. The book discusses why construction steel really is the preferred material for most large structures. Comparisons of soft metal chain vs. high tensile strength suspension bridges or bi-plane vs. monoplane design are discussed. I would recommend this for anybody that wants a well rounded basic understanding of why structures are the designed the way they are. The math is at a minimum, the concepts are very well explained and real world examples are used frequently to keep it interesting. The author's career has exposed him to a multitude of design failures and successes. He readily explains them along with his philosophy of design and accident prevention. This is another one of those books that can in a few chapters explain the major goals and problems in the modern field of design and materials science.