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Things We Make: The Unknown History of Invention from Cathedrals to Soda Cans [Kõva köide]

3.75/5 (1643 hinnangut Goodreads-ist)
  • Formaat: Hardback, 272 pages, kõrgus x laius x paksus: 217x145x24 mm, kaal: 503 g
  • Ilmumisaeg: 15-Jun-2023
  • Kirjastus: Sourcebooks, Inc
  • ISBN-10: 1728215757
  • ISBN-13: 9781728215754
  • Formaat: Hardback, 272 pages, kõrgus x laius x paksus: 217x145x24 mm, kaal: 503 g
  • Ilmumisaeg: 15-Jun-2023
  • Kirjastus: Sourcebooks, Inc
  • ISBN-10: 1728215757
  • ISBN-13: 9781728215754
From the grand stone arches of medieval cathedrals to the ordinary modern soda can, the author, aka The Engineer Guy, explains the golden rule of thumb that underlies every new building technique, every technological advancement and every creative solution that leads us toward a more functional world.

"In this book, Bill Hammack, better known as The Engineer Guy, takes us on a whirlwind tour of how humans built the world we know today. From the grand stone arches of medieval cathedrals to the mundane modern soda can, Hammack explains the golden rule of thumb that underlies every new building technique, every technological advancement, and every creative solution that leads us one step closer to a better, more functional world. Perfect for readers of Adam Grant and Jared Diamond, this fascinating examination of the method that keeps pushing humanity forward is a spotlight on the achievements of the past and a celebration of the potential of our future"--

Discover the secret method used to build the world…

For millennia, humans have used one simple method to solve problems. Whether it's planting crops, building skyscrapers, developing photographs, or designing the first microchip, all creators follow the same steps to engineer progress. But this powerful method, the "engineering method", is an all but hidden process that few of us have heard of—let alone understand—but that influences every aspect of our lives.

Bill Hammack, a Carl Sagan award-winning professor of engineering and viral "The Engineer Guy" on Youtube, has a lifelong passion for the things we make, and how we make them. Now, for the first time, he reveals the invisible method behind every invention and takes us on a whirlwind tour of how humans built the world we know today. From the grand stone arches of medieval cathedrals to the mundane modern soda can, Hammack explains the golden rule of thumb that underlies every new building technique, every technological advancement, and every creative solution that leads us one step closer to a better, more functional world. Spanning centuries and cultures, Hammack offers a fascinating perspective on how humans engineer solutions in a world full of problems.

Perfect for readers of Adam Grant and Simon Winchester, The Things We Make is a captivating examination of the method that keeps pushing humanity forward, a spotlight on the achievements of the past, and a celebration of the potential of our future that will change the way we see the world around us.

Introduction ix
Chapter 1 The Invisible Method: How to Build a Cathedral without Mathematics, Science, or a Yardstick
1(20)
Chapter 2 Best: The Vitruvian Man, Kodachrome, and the Constant Search for Better
21(24)
Chapter 3 Uncertainty: The Art of the Unknown and How Engineers Use It to Create Solutions
45(23)
Chapter 4 Resources: From Mesopotamia to the Islamic Empire to Space--How Materials, Energy, and Knowledge Shape Everything
68(20)
Chapter 5 Engineering Mindset: The Three Key Strategies That Created a Ceramic Masterpiece (and Every Other Innovation)
88(22)
Chapter 6 Science: The Gold Standard for Rules of Thumb
110(19)
Chapter 7 Mathematics: How Engineers Offend Mathematicians to Predict the Future
129(24)
Chapter 8 Invention: The Myth of the Lone Inventor and the Race to Light the World
153(19)
Chapter 9 Conclusion: What the Microwave Oven Teaches Us about Innovation, Technology, and How the Engineering Method Can Save the World
172(26)
Afterword 198(8)
Reading Group Guide 206(2)
Appendix: Themes 208(11)
Bibliography 219(19)
Image Credits 238(1)
Notes 239(11)
Acknowledgments 250(2)
About the Author 252
BILL HAMMACK is a professor of engineering at the University of Illinois and the host of the engineerguy Youtube channel. His work has received nine national awards from a diverse group of engineering, scientific, and journalistic societies. In 2019 he was the recipient of the prestigious Carl Sagan Award. He lives in Chicago with his family.