10 Books Every Engineer Should Read
Studying Engineering is a complex and challenging endeavour. Budding engineers must keep an open mind and read as much as possible about their subject. It will help them gain new insight into their stream of study and come across new ways of thinking. The following reading list comprises a list of books that every aspiring engineer should read. It will enhance their understanding and appreciation of Engineering.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
This book provides an excellent framework to approach one’s career as a world-class individual. It is a brilliant self-help and business book that will help any engineer master the basic skills they need to succeed in life. The book provides simple, easy-to-follow tips that will help an individual become better than his peers. The book educates the students to home their basics initially to become capable of tackling advanced skills efficiently.
Just as when one is pursuing their engineering degree, if they have good command over the basics. They can effortlessly solve complex problems by breaking them down. However, if one fails to master the basics, it’s an uphill battle after that.
Engineer to Win by Carroll Smith
Carroll Smith is a legendary high-performance Formula One racer. The book demonstrates the commitment to performance that is necessary to succeed in any endeavour. This book is handy for Mechanical, Aerospace, Systems Engineering students as it talks about the process of world-class engineering results. It will enlighten aspiring engineers to make specific changes in their mentality, attitude, and skills. These changes will help them build a better career.
Getting Things Done by David Allen
David Allen is an expert on personal and organizational productivity. He says that to get things done effectively. One needs to focus wholeheartedly, plan accordingly and see through the execution process. Only then can any task be accomplished efficiently. This book can act as a motivation not just for an engineer but also for people engaged in any work line.
The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman
Donald Norman was a Cognitive Scientist and an Engineer himself. He shows how the design of an item serves as a communication channel between a non-living object and its user. The book is about product design. Though written many years ago, it holds great importance even today. It explains why things are designed the way they are and how to make products more valuable. It shows how purely aesthetic design can ruin the way products work and emphasizes user experience and functionality. It has great relevance for engineers who are involved in making so many vital structures.
Structures – or Why Things Don’t Fall by J.E. Gordon
The book is simple and straightforward to read. It provides answers to trickiest questions on engineering, like what keeps the bridges stable or what makes monuments so impressive, and so on. It is the perfect book for an aspiring engineering student. It will help solve some of the misunderstandings one may have about engineering and provide relevant answers. The author also explains some of the complex technical terms fascinatingly.
The Four-Hour Chef by Tim Ferriss
On the face of it, the book may seem like an everyday cookbook. However, it is no ordinary cookbook. Tim Ferriss, through this book, manages to take a complicated process and make it manageable. The book is a guide to mastering life. It provides some critical ideas on how to tackle complex problems and learn new concepts simpler. As engineers who have to deal with complex problems daily, this book can act as your guide to making things more straightforward and less perplexing.
How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams
This book is an excellent reminder that even after repeated failures; one can pave the way to success slowly and steadily. The book provides ideas to help one get out of tricky situations- situations where one might feel completely helpless and vulnerable. It is not just applicable for an engineer, but readers from all walks of life can use this book as a guide in navigating through life.
Zero to One: Notes on Start-ups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel
This book has great relevance for start-ups, economics, business design, and the future of technology. It offers readers exposure to various techniques which will help them in building their successful enterprise. Peter Thiel says anyone can successfully set up their own business. One needs innovation and original thinking rather than competing on ideas that already exist in the marketplace.
She Engineers: Outsmart Bias, Unlock your Potential, and Create the Engineering Career of your Dreams by Stephanie Slocum
This book is, especially for female engineers. Stephanie Slocum, who has over fifteen years of experience in the engineering industry, guides female engineers to succeed in a field that males completely dominate. She uses a conversational and down-to-earth approach to teaching female engineers how to neutralize gender bias while maximizing their earning potential.
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance
Lastly, it is a must-read for every aspiring and ambitious person in the world. Ashlee Vance uncovers the inspiring life story of Elon Musk, a billionaire entrepreneur and one of the greatest minds of today’s generation. He argues that Musk is the combination of legendary inventors and industrialists like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Howard Hughes, and Steve Jobs. He says Musk has dedicated his life and energies to creating a future similar to the work of science fiction. This book can act as a source of inspiration to all aspiring engineers and entrepreneurs.
We come to the end of our list of excellent books that are a must-read for all engineers. Reading these books will surely be an enriching and life-changing experience for you. So go ahead and indulge yourself in some of these great titles.
