The Most Important Science/Technology Books That Made a Difference?

Excellent question.

My first is (surprise, surprise) Machinery's Handbook, probably about 16th ed. I actually read most of the thing over about a two year period. That's where I learned something about what I didn't know.

My second is Development of Concepts of Physics, Arnold Arons, which showed me the logical time line of the various ideas in physics,i.e., things like Faraday's law didn't just pop up one day without any connection to other things going on.

My last would be my beloved Mechanical Engineers' Handbook, 3rd ed. From this I have found, and continue to find, very straightforward, practical calculations that made it much easier to do designs.

when i was 14 my dad asked me a question: what are the 3 most import teck/science/med discoveries in mankind's history to date...

my choices: a cure for polio, the telephone and the airplane

when asked to explain my choices, i was further asked who did i think inspired those men to the feats they accomplished.

i had no answer.

i was given a choice to research that and provide something better than" i dunn knowww..."

i choose aviation.

my father called Da Vinci " the father of aeronautics"..1st choice

it was 64' i don't remember any 1 specific book, but i know that the report i had to give my dad was to his standards , not that of a 14 yr old...

2nd choice: ( this I remember reading .. but my recall of the subject matter , as to able to quote anything from this book, no way...)

Wolfgang Langewiesche 1944 : stick and rudder : an explanation of the art of flying...

after this report , my dad asked me where i thought aviations future would be..

i thought space was that answer.

when asked to expound on why , i choose , what i thought might happen,

the discussion was lead to how..? would that happen...

3rd choice Albert Einstein. 1938 . evolution of physics...

after this report , i was asked what did all these men have in common..?

...* how has that shaped my life..?

* btw * the lapse in train of thoughts, the seemingly disjointed thoughts random attempts at humor..might be explained by the fact : in `99 while removing and replacing a 757 apu, it struck me on the head,( with shipping cradle apox 900 lbs )

so with that award..comes a lifetime a lifetime supply of losing my train of thought right in the middle of the sentence..*

this info is offered as a way of explanation , not as an excuse..

at this time i'd like to say to everyone, if i've been flippant , or insincere with you , i apologize *

and the other part of that , is just my sense of humor..

* well , in one way, it brought me closer to my dad at the time...

as far as teck sci thinking..

whew.. here we go :

when looking at the names , tesla ,wright ,etc, pioneers all, i saw that " they " were willing to challenge, thoughts, concepts , that translated into commitment for me..

there's more.. but..im getting caught in the telling...

and it's gone now.. my point..well so there you see...

i do know this.. i enjoy these conversations , threads...

thankz everybody...

vince

On a purely technical level:

1. Machinerys Handbook as TVP45 mentioned
2. Timoshenkos books (more than one classic)
3. Design of Weldments - Blodgett

(I won′t get into the particulars about how they influenced me - because they are simply classics that don′t need elaboration - plus I am short on time )

I've been caught thinking about all the important and consagrated books I have consulted during university times, choosing some titles to show, when I realized that the most important ones that came to me and made me figure really soon in my life what I would like to work with I have read when I was younger, far before knowing that I was going to be a mechanical engineer someday (I was from 8 to 11 years old when I first read those) : 1- An old encyclopaedia that my mother used to buy as weekly magazines, and then you put everything together and end up with a complete set after like two years. It was called "Conhecer Universal" or something like that. It was like the Barsa, but with much more figures and pictures. By that time, it was really expensive to buy a collection of books. Of course, no internet, no PCs, no digital things. The Atari videogame was being lauched. I used to read all the technical sections, but, of course, mechanics, physics and technology always had my attention, and started answering some questions that my dad was not able to satisfy me answering. He always kept saying "go outside, the day is cool, go play soccer!" and I replyed "no, I've gotta homework to do". Oh, my finances... 2- "Amazing disasters in the history". Edited by the Reader's Digest. Including descriptions, maps and schematics about the Titanic, the Lindenburg, and the impact of a bomber in New York in the Empire State back in the 2nd WW time. With this one, I realized about the guys that build and take care of everything, and about errors and deffects in things everybody think are perfect. 3- "A brief history of time" from Stephen Hawking. I had to read it several times until I was able to understand some points, despite Mr. Hawking has written the book for the general public. Good to realize that there are much more things around you that your eyes can reveal, and that those small things do great differences. And, as I always was attracted to space and astronomy observation too, was able to join some previous knowledge and put in a line the orders of magnitude of the things (remember I have read an entire encyclopaedia at that time...). The result: a mechanical engineer that works with aeronautics maintenance, currently turboprop engines and APUs. Ha! If I had heard my father...

The Origins of the Species by Charles Darwin.

Being familiar with palaeontology and living in a state where the teaching of Darwin's theory of evolution was illegal, I was curious to read it. It gave me the perspective of how to discern the intension of a scientist from street lore.

No Highway, & Sliderule by Nevil Shute, Nevil Shute Norway, had a lot of influence on me. Make it work, work it till it breaks.

There was a book by Bertrand Russell about the Special Theory of Realitivity that bothered me.

Hi EMC,

I haven't read this book, but now I will.

While not a book, a huge turning point in my life was a university class I took as an adult, "Critical Thinking", which also examined the concept of 'how we know what we know'.

Quite amazing, and, I don't believe, well understood ... certainly not by the 'masses', and unfortunately, not by many who need to know this process. Now, in an era of pseudo-engineering (I can press a button and the computer will tell me the answer); pseudo-science as 'propagandized-for-profit'; pseudo-knowledge (the infamous statement is many speeches, "a man once said"); and pseudo-information (celebrity-worship ... if they said 'it', it must be true), the need for 'critical thinking is even more important.

I try, and I try to lead others in this way ... difficult.

Thanks for your comments .

Kind regards ...

Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.

I just finished Atlas Shrugged. Had just picked up The Fountainhead.

Your clear and precise use of language ("By learning I am not speaking of some theories on how to teach, but rather how the human mind works," is but the first of many examples).

milo

Hah!

If a tree falls and nobody is there to hear, does it make a sound? Of course! Anyone who has done hydraulics troubleshooting analysis can tell you that sound exists (and does its damage) even when nobody is within a hundred miles.

http://hydraulics.eaton.com/products/pdfs/694.pdf

emc -- It's all about words, meanings, definitions and little more. If we choose to construct elaborate logical structures around the meanings of words that's fine. But none of that changes reality. If we choose as we do in the English language and assign the word "reality" to two different meanings as described by the adjectives "objective" and "subjective" then so be it. We could just as well have two words and no adjectives.

This may all be relevant to how we communicate; but of what other use is it? The first time I heard that tree falling in a forest question line from my high school biology teacher I thought it was silly and had little to do with anything except what a word, sound, actually means.

Yes, there are people out there who think differently. I've been married to one for 46 years. She and I understand each other better now than we did in our youth.

A study of these differences in how people think is a worthwhile pursuit. The messy meanings of words in the English language only confuse the issue. There is only one physical reality. We still see it imperfectly; but the limits of human perception don't change that reality. Mixing it up with metaphysics and alternate realities such as those constructed in the minds of human beings just serves to confuse the whole issue of what is physical reality.

On the other hand there is plenty to be said about the beliefs we hold and the constructs in our minds. And plenty of good reading there.

Ed Weldon

Ed is indeed correct that our perception of reality doesn't affect it in any way, shape or form. Of course, that is just a statement of belief in an objective reality. Ed is such an objectivist he discounts any other view as mere confusion, or parsing the language. Language - words - mean things. The words stand for concepts, which are, as Ed says, human constructs that help us deal with reality.

Ed's basic point is that the only thing that matters is reality, not our perception thereof. I disagree. Most of the problems in the world today are human-caused, not technological or scientific. Not discounting the latter, just saying that if you addressed the things that cause human conflict, and removed barriers to human freedom, the benefit would far outweigh a cure for cancer, or even a viable substitute for oil.

This is of course a very human-centered viewpoint. I don't disagree that in the (much larger) context, humans don't really matter to reality. But as humans, as living beings, we have to figure out how best to get on this world, and for survival not just as a species, but in aspiring to be the best we can be, understanding how we understand reality is of paramount importance.

1. Leonardo Da Vinci's Notebooks - showed me the art of mechanical creations and their beautiful designs; also how to make things work.

2. The Complete Patents of Nicholas Tesla - showed me the art and possibilities that electricity has to offer.

3. How to Build and Use Electronic Devices without Frustration, Panic, Mountains of Money, or an Engineering Degree - provided the tools needed to bring it all together and start building electronic gadgets and mechanical devices; some useful, some not so useful, and some down right shocking.

Nice CatzPaw.

"How to Build and Use Electronic Devices without Frustration, Panic, Mountains of Money, or an Engineering Degree"

Super 1980 book for mechanical engineers and tinkerers. Emphasizes op amps. Doesn't get into things like microprocessors though. Amazon lists cheap used copies in the under $20 range.

Ed Weldon

"How to Build and Use Electronic Devices without Frustration, Panic, Mountains of Money, or an Engineering Degree"

what is the book name and author.

Sandeep -- This book is fairly available used in the USA including a number of Amazon affiliated used book sellers.

"How to Build and Use Electronic Devices Without Frustration, Panic, Mountains of Money, or an Engineering Degree" (actual title) Author: Stuart A. Hoenig; Publisher: Little Brown & Co; Publication Year: 1973; ISBN-10: 0316368075; ISBN-13: 9780316368070

Ed Weldon

I ordered one, too. I learned from the original 1973 edition, but lost it decades ago. Thanks for the reminder! - emc_c

Hi...at the student level for me it was :

1. Physical Mettallurgy for Engineers by Clark & Warney...which helped start my mental engine.
2. Electrical Technolology by Cotton
3. Mech Engineers handbook & the design data handbook publised by the Mechanical Engineering department of my college.
4. Mech Measurements by Beckwhith

Ofcourse, in the field the various standards ASTM, ASME, BS, BIS, DIN, GOST, JIS, departmental procedures, etc have all helped in doing things 'the right way'.

Anil Tiwari

That's an easy one:

Chemistry and Chemical Reactivity, Kotz

Electronic Circuits, Tooley

Upgrading and Repairing Computers, Mueller

And if you can read Greek,

Physics by Mazis

These are complete reference text books that explain everything to people of all levels and enable you to start creating.

Since we seem to have strayed from Science and Technical books to philosophy, etc, I still happen to believe that the Holy Bible contains the answers to life's real questions.

But as for technical books, I think Bird, Stewart and Lightfoots "Transport Phenomena" heads the list of useful texts as it drastically extended the field of fluid, heat and mass flows.

good question, Milo...

The first book on my list wouldn't be influential to anybody else, but it was to me, many years ago: The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism ed Malcolm Stuart 1979. It was the first book I owned that provided details of the chemistry behind "plant medicines", and that's why, ultimately, I went back to university to study science.

The other two books are a good read for anygineer, unless you're already a professional in these matters (although there are others just as good, I'm sticking with the 3max):

Complexification by John L. Casti is the first book I read about chaos theory/ complexity theory, a subject that continues to fascinate me and to inform my thoughts and musings about science. That's because, with all due respect for the scientific method, the life sciences need new insights into methods of scientific study in complex, real systems where there are many uncontrolled and uncontrollable variables. The insights gained in a laboratory under strict controls are not always applicable in real environments. This is the big challenge in life sciences.

How the Leopard Changed its Spots: The Evolution of Complexity by Brian Goodwin is another great read on the subject, which explores biological subject matter and specifically morphogenesis and evolutionary theory - fascinating.

These and other books on chaos/complexity are the sort of thing that leaves me with many unanswered questions and an open mind.. I'm always looking for the big picture behind our assumptions and methods. That's the place I want to be in my scientific thinking. Not to toss out what is valid in context, but to move back far enough that you can see the context surrounding an apparent 'truth' or 'procedure' and understand its limits.

I just love the thrill of difficult unanswered or unsolved problems.

Now You're Talking from the American Radio Relay League. It helped me get a ham radio license, and I still refer to it sometimes.

My Engineering Physics and Meteorology textbooks are two more I keep for reference.

Invention of the Meteorological Instruments by W. E. Knowles-Middleton, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1969, is a good read. Full of little-known information, it also gives a picture of the history of science.

How to Write, Speak, and Think More Effectively by Rudolph Flesch is good for understanding the connections between writing, speaking, and thinking. Communication is important to science, and he has a chapter about the relationship between the two.