The Things We Make : The Unknown History of Invention from Cathedrals to Soda Cans / Bill Hammack.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hammack, Bill, 1961- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Inventions.

Manufactures.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (272 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

2023.

Naperville, Illinois : Sourcebooks, 2024.

Summary:

"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"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1. The Invisible Method: How to Build a Cathedral without Mathematics, Science, or a Yardstick

Chapter 2. Best: The Vitruvian Man, Kodachrome, and the Constant Search for Better

Chapter 3. Uncertainty: The Art of the Unknown and How Engineers Use It to Create Solutions

Chapter 4. Resources: From Mesopotamia to the Islamic Empire to Space-How Materials, Energy, and Knowledge Shape Everything

Chapter 5. Engineering Mindset: The Three Key Strategies That Created a Ceramic Masterpiece (and Every Other Innovation)

Chapter 6. Science: The Gold Standard for Rules of Thumb

Chapter 7. Mathematics: How Engineers Offend Mathematicians to Predict the Future

Chapter 8. Invention: The Myth of the Lone Inventor and the Race to Light the World

Chapter 9. Conclusion: What the Microwave Oven Teaches Us about Innovation, Technology, and How the Engineering Method Can Save the World

Afterword

Reading Group Guide

Appendix: Themes

Bibliography

Image Credits

Notes

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Back Cover.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781728215761

1728215765