Structures: Or Why Things Don/'t Fall Down

In a book described as one of the "14 books that inspired Elon Musk," J.E. Gordon strips engineering of its confusing jargon and conveys its fundamental principles in accessible, witty prose. For anyone who has ever wondered why suspension bridges don’t collapse under eight lanes of traffic, how dams hold back thousands of gallons of water or give way, or what principles guide the design of a skyscraper, a slanted dress, or a kangaroo, this book will alleviate your fears and answer your questions.

"Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down" is an informal explanation of the fundamental forces that hold together the ordinary and essential things in this world—from buildings and bodies to flying airplanes and eggshells. In a style that combines wit, a masterful understanding of its subject, and an encyclopedic range of references, Gordon includes chapters like "How to Design a Worm" and "The Advantage of Being a Beam," offering humorous insights into human and natural creations.

Architects and engineers will appreciate the clear and concise explanations of the concepts of tension, shear, torsion, fracture, and compression. Whether you are building a house, a sailboat, or a catapult, this is a useful tool for understanding the mechanics of joints, floors, ceilings, hulls, masts, or flying buttresses. Without jargon or oversimplification, "Structures" opens the wonders of technology to anyone interested in the fundamentals of our everyday lives.