Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down 1st Edition

by J. E. Gordon (Author)

96 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0306812835

ISBN-10: 0306812835

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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.

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Editorial Reviews

Paperback: 421 pages
Publisher: Da Capo Press; 1 edition (July 10, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0306812835
ISBN-13: 978-0306812835
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 96 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Engineering > Civil & Environmental > Structural
- #5 in Books > Textbooks > Engineering > Civil Engineering
- #6 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Engineering > Reference > Architecture > Methods & Materials

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ReviewKing

A comprehensive text that's fun to read.

December 14, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I wish Gordon was my Strength of Material Professor. His grasp of the subject is only exceeded by his writing skills.

Reminds me of Richard Feynman in his knowledge and his ability to teach a complex topic..

BTW this is on the recommended book list of Elon Musk. That's a nice endorsement.

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Melissa Johnson

The book is written sort of like a narrative

July 4, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

What this book does very well is demonstrate the scientific process from a practical and engineering perspective. The book is written sort of like a narrative, and the historical descriptions take on a nearly first-person feel to it. It's almost like 'you' can experience the evolution of thought and understanding of structural mechanics.

It's as close to a representation of how science is actually done as I've seen. Very unique.

FYI though, the guy tends to get a bit verbose and it sometimes feels like words were added to make his stream of consciousness writing make sense to others, but not enough words were taken away later.

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Clarence Darrow

Five Stars

October 25, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I thought this would be a bit dry, but it's geared toward the layperson, and it's informative and entertaining.

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R. D Johnson

A book every engineer should read

January 22, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

There are two kinds of books engineers need to read--the dry, math-bound classroom textbooks that allow them to believe they can precisely analyze their creations to two decimal places, and the practical, generalist books like this one that explain why all that math does nothing to prevent their creations from breaking into multiple pieces. Tension and compression, stress and strain, and the dreaded torsion are the subjects of this book, but its real accomplishment is explaining the reality of structures--where the mathematically ideal tension of a rope meets the concomitant but difficult-to-quantify need for attachments at both ends. The author does this with a fine English wit and easy-to-follow prose.

One of my chief recreational interests is the design and construction of experimental aircraft, and pretty much every topic discussed in this book is pertinent to that activity. In particular, the sections on work of fracture and crack propagation are explained better here than in any design book I've ever read. A must-read in my opinion for anyone involved in structural or mechanical designs.

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Sarah C. Harlan

Great Englishman wit!

February 22, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Written by an Englishman with dry wit, this is a textbook that lay persons such as I can read smoothly and enjoyably. There are 24 photo plates in the middle, and stick drawings on almost every page. Mathematical formulas abound, but if you don't like math, you can skip the formulas and continue reading with pleasure.

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abdelrahman h.

This book is literally one of the best books i have ever read in my life

January 19, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I read about 20 books/year, This book is literally one of the best books i have ever read in my life. Math is very minimum some complicated stuff but very rare and a must read for every Mechanical/Civil engineer.

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Christopher Chen

He enjoyed reading this book

October 13, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I purchased this book for my father since he is very much into books with a wealth of knowledge and also because he is expanding his book collection for his library. He enjoyed reading this book.

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Amazon Customer

Not reading this book is a sin for every educated man.

June 3, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

J.E.Gordon has taken a remarkable lifetime worth of experiences, the history of aviation, industrialization, railways, shipbuilding and classical culture and put them all into a single, entertaining and tantalizing package. After reading this volume you will have a better understanding of structures, history and society. It is thus no surprise that after four decades it is still a compulsory reading in all major engineering courses.
Yet he goes beyond the science and history: he gives a human dimension to the machines and structures that uphold our society. Through this lens the way we look at society and its interaction with its inventions is exposed in all its beauty and ugliness.

Comment 8 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

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Most recent customer reviews

John Lawless himself

Structures

Every educated person should read this. It is delightful, idiosyncratic and intelligent. The comments on the sinking of the Birkenhead are alone worth the money.

Published 11 days ago

Ellen T. Powers

Fine condition. This is another text I plan on ...

Fine condition. This is another text I plan on using in my personal study of structures, and how and why certain forms are used.

Published 14 days ago

Timothy L. Kay Jr.

Great read for Engineers

Good (but brief) overview of the history of the development and application of structural analysis. Good basic info and primer on the "whys" and understanding of how structures...Read more

Published 1 month ago

Amazon Customer

Four Stars

My son is enjoying the read

Published 2 months ago

Lucky

Very informative

Tough read due to it jumping around a bit, but very informative. Little challenging as topics don't flow from chapter to chapter as well.

Published 2 months ago

Piper

Gordon's writing is really very good, if you are interested in technology

Gordon's writing is really very good, if you are interested in technology. His previous book on why you don't fall through the floor was also terrific.Read more

Published 6 months ago

Gary Chabot

Four Stars

Simple and clear reading.

Published 7 months ago

aajarrett

Five Stars

Great book

Published 8 months ago

I just couldn't bring myself to read too much of ...

I just couldn't bring myself to read too much of it. Maybe because I have a strong science background, maybe because it is a rather dry reading.

Published 8 months ago

Alex S.

Three Stars

The fundamental ideas are there it was just a little too technical for me.

Published 8 months ago

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