List Price: $17.95
Save: $11.41 (64%)

Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

Sold by Soudah and Fulfilled by Amazon.

Turn on 1-Click ordering for this browser

This item does not ship to France. Please check other sellers who may ship internationally. Learn more

Select delivery location

Added to

Unable to add item to List. Please try again.

Other Sellers on Amazon

Add to Cart

$7.52
& FREE Shipping on eligible orders. Details

Sold by: Amazon.com

Add to Cart

$5.00
+ $3.99 shipping

Sold by: hot_books4sale

Add to Cart

$5.90
+ $3.99 shipping

Sold by: Becker Inc.

Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See all 3 images

Why Buildings Fall Down: How Structures Fail Paperback – February 17, 2002

by Matthys Levy (Author),‎ Mario Salvadori (Author),‎ Kevin Woest (Illustrator)

38 customer reviews

See all 7 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Hardcover

"Please retry"

$24.99

$1.95

Paperback

"Please retry"

$6.54

$5.00

$0.99

The authors examine buildings of all kinds, from ancient domes like Istanbul's Hagia Sophia to the state-of-the-art Hartford Civic Arena. Their subjects range from the man-caused destruction of the Parthenon to the earthquake damage of 1989 in Armenia and San Francisco.

The stories that make up Why Buildings Fall Down are in the end very human ones, tales of the interaction of people and nature, of architects, engineers, builders, materials, and natural forces all coming together in sometimes dramatic (and always instructive) ways. B/W line drawings

Frequently bought together

Total price: $37.34

These items are shipped from and sold by different sellers. Show details

Buy the selected items together

This item:Why Buildings Fall Down: How Structures Fail by Matthys Levy Paperback $6.54
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Sold by Soudah and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Why Buildings Stand Up: The Strength of Architecture by Mario Salvadori Paperback $14.84
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down by J. E. Gordon Paperback $15.96
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.

Mario Salvadori

47

Paperback
$14.84
J. E. Gordon

96

Paperback
$15.96
Mario Salvadori

44

Paperback
$12.71
James Ambrose

24

Hardcover
37 offers from $152.50
Henry Petroski

73

in CAD Graphic Design Guides
Paperback
$10.79
Francis D. K. Ching

226

in Drafting & Mechanical Drawing
Paperback
$31.97

Special offers and product promotions

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Structural engineers Levy and Salvadori have written a well-paced, highly informative, nontechnical work describing failures in a variety of structures such as buildings, bridges, and dams. Salvadori wrote Why Buildings Stand Up (Norton, 1990), so this is a natural complement. The subject, somewhat grisly in nature, is presented here with respect for the tragedies involved, and yet with a lighthearted pursuit of the truth as to the cause of the failure. Analysis of the failure is discussed and recommendations for improvement are offered, but without the usual condescension hindsight allows. Profuse illustrations by Kevin Woest, well labeled and explained, and several appendixes aid access. An index (not seen) is provided, but no glossary. This fascinating book is easily accessible to laypersons. Highly recommended.
- Alex Hartmann, Bloomsburg Univ. Lib., Pa.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

The reader is sure to find the disaster that suits his or her taste. -- New York Times Book Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product details

Paperback: 346 pages
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; Updated and expanded edition (February 17, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 039331152X
ISBN-13: 978-0393311525
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1 x 9.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 38 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #310,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #64 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Engineering > Reference > Architecture > Study & Teaching
- #119 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Engineering > Civil & Environmental > Structural
- #799 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Home Improvement & Design > How-to & Home Improvements > Design & Construction

Would you like to tell us about a lower price?
If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support?

NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE

Customer Reviews

1 star (0%)

Write a customer review

See all 38 customer reviews

Rated by customers interested in

What's this?

Engineering & Transportation Books

4.5 out of 5 stars

Home & Hobby Books

4.2 out of 5 stars

Art & Photography Books

4.4 out of 5 stars

Is this feature helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

Read reviews that mention

Top customer reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Dan P.

this is a fantastic piece of nonfiction

June 20, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

"WBFD" explains engineering with clarity, architectural philosophy with simplicity, and structural events with a sharp, incisive wit. Line drawings are frequent and presented in situ with text. This does not rise to the technical level of a textbook, but the divisions between chapters are a little disorienting for a popular book and occasionally seem arbitrary. For example, the authors discuss the Tacoma Narrows suspension bridge failure in one chapter, then cover another suspension bridge failure alongside airplane failures in a subsequent chapter. Of course technically this is a sensible layout- one chapter is on torsion failures and the other covers metal fatigue- but it also makes for a jumpy narrative between seemingly dissimilar objects.
Jumpiness aside, this is a fantastic piece of nonfiction. The "court transcripts" included are comically real- I have heard similar things from other expert witnesses with degrees from European institutions older than the USA being "called out" on the witness stand for having the temerity to lack an American doctorate.

Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

Anne Fleming

Solid, Accessible Survey of Structural Failures

September 11, 2009

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is one of the best books I've read on the engineering behind structural failures. The authors teach by example, exploring fallen apartment buildings, stadiums, bridges and other structure, and using each to illustrate an important engineering principle. The illustrations are also an invaluable aid to understanding the problems in each structure (particularly for readers who, like me, may find it difficult to follow verbiage on the orientation of strutts, the direction of braces, etc.).

I only had two gripes: a glossary provided the only introduction to many basic concepts; and political/historical/personal context would have made for a livelier account. The glossary was a very helpful resource for understanding basic things like, what "load" is, and how it effects structures. It might have been better to also work those descriptions into the text as the concepts arose - this would have made it easier for me to assimilate them. Also, I enjoyed it when the authors gave context for many of the engineering decisions made - for instance, that a stadium rooftop was designed, in part, because flaws in the city sewer system prevented the efficient disposition of significant rainfall. However, more of this kind of context - particularly historical and personal facts that had bearing on design decisions - would have made each example into a better story, and improved the reading experience for me.

Overall, a highly recommended book.

Comment 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

Joseph Horton

Great discussions, excellent illustrations.

June 2, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Quick review: two architectural engineers write about building failures. Why? Because on their aunts' response to their earlier work about why building stand up was that this would make for a much more interesting book.

She was right.

CommentWas this review helpful to you?

Yes

SSL

great book

May 21, 2006

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I am not an architect or engineer, but I found this book really fascinating. The authors explain things so that those not in the field could understand, but sometimes get too technical. The illustrations were great, but there should have been more, and some color photos would have been nice.

One thing the authors did not point out, is that hindsight is 20/20. It is almost as though they believe they would never make any errors like those they describe (though some designs they discuss really do sound irresponsible), that buildings they designed would stand forever regardless of environmental factors like earthquakes, floods, etc.

Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

Curcio

Five Stars

April 22, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Great condition!

CommentWas this review helpful to you?

Yes

Norman Eng

Delighted with my purchase

July 11, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Delighted with my purchase. The book arrived as described by the Seller and it arrived ahead of schedule. Couldn't be happier.

CommentWas this review helpful to you?

Yes

Dawn Zuber

Interesting book

January 18, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The companion to this book (Why Buildings Stand Up) was a textbook for one of my classes when I was in architecture school in the 80s. I still have my old, dog-eared copy on my bookshelf in my office. I purchased this book, along with a new edition of Why Buildings Stand Up, to give to an 11-year-old (super intelligent) friend who would like to be an architect. I was worried that it might be too complex for him, but his mom assured me that it would not be.

Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

Wesley Brown

Excellent non-technical read

June 15, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Why Buildings Fall Down gives the reader many examples of factors that lead to structural failure. This book is made for the layman and engineering concepts are explained so everyone can understand. The edition I received had hand-drawn pictures which I thought was not the best way to show existing structures. I don't know if the later editions have been updated with newer pictures or examples of failures.

CommentWas this review helpful to you?

Yes

Customer images

See all customer images

Most recent customer reviews

Carol S Bower

Five Stars

very interesting and clearly written

Received the book in a timely manner just as described

Published on February 28, 2015

H. Campbell

As a structural engineer I enjoy in schaudenfraude fashion the structural problems revealed in books ...

As a structural engineer I enjoy in schaudenfraude fashion the structural problems revealed in books like this. Alas, it was a bit of a let down.Read more

Published on September 19, 2014

CESAR GUIDI

Five Stars

Everything was perfect!!

Published on August 16, 2014

Anthony Champion

Four Stars

A good buy

Published on July 21, 2014

Mark Yerges

Great book! This should be required reading for all ...

Great book! This should be required reading for all structural engineers.

Published on July 21, 2014

Alexander R. Pruss

This is a really fun book. I've been reading it out loud to ...

This is a really fun book. I've been reading it out loud to my nine-year-old.

Published on June 30, 2014

Connie

My grandson is studying to be a structural engineer and requested this book.

I have not read this book, but since my grandson who is studying to be a structural engineer requested it and the book "Why Buildings Stand Up: The Strength of Architecture, I...Read more

Published on March 13, 2014

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway

This item: Why Buildings Fall Down: How Structures Fail

Set up a giveaway

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.

Mario Salvadori

47

Paperback
$14.84
J. E. Gordon

96

Paperback
$15.96
Mario Salvadori

44

Paperback
$12.71
Henry Petroski

73

in CAD Graphic Design Guides
Paperback
$10.79
Naval Education And…

90

Paperback
$9.73
Roma Agrawal

7

in Structural Engineering
Hardcover
$21.62

Pages with related products. See and discover other items: computer building, building a computer, building materials, world building

Buy New

$6.54

Turn on 1-Click ordering for this browser

Other Sellers on Amazon

Why Buildings Fall Down: How Structures Fail Paperback – February 17, 2002

Frequently bought together

Sponsored products related to this item (What's this?)

Customers who bought this item also bought

Special offers and product promotions

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Review

Product details

Sponsored products related to this item (What's this?)

Customer Reviews

Read reviews that mention

Top customer reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Customer images

Most recent customer reviews

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Buy New $6.54

Turn on 1-Click ordering for this browser

Sorry, there was a problem.

Sorry, there was a problem.

Other Sellers on Amazon

Why Buildings Fall Down: How Structures Fail Paperback – February 17, 2002

Frequently bought together

Sponsored products related to this item (What's this?)

Customers who bought this item also bought

Special offers and product promotions

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Review

Product details

Sponsored products related to this item (What's this?)

Customer Reviews

Read reviews that mention

Top customer reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Customer images

Most recent customer reviews

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Buy New

$6.54