To Engineer Is Human

Petroski is an eminent engineer and reflective author who provides powerful insights into engineering design.

I chose this book (among his many excellent books):

a) because it embodies a key theme that resonates throughout my own research – that success often emerges from engaging with failure; and

b) because the examples are beautifully organised and labelled, and each narrative reveals ‘the what and the why’. 

Petroski writes beautifully, and he maps the connections between designerly, scientific, and engineering ideals – and the messy realities of real life.