Power, Speed, and Form: Engineers and the Making of the Twentieth Century

Power, Speed, and Form is a book that explains the engineering behind eight breakthrough innovations that transformed American life from 1876 to 1939, such as the telephone, electric power, oil refining, automobile, airplane, radio, long-span steel bridge, and building with reinforced concrete. It shows how the best engineering exemplifies efficiency, economy, and elegance and is accessible and readable for educators, first-year engineering students, liberal arts students, and general readers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 29 November 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Power, Speed, and Form: The Engineering Behind Eight Breakthrough Innovations That Transformed American Life

From 1876 to 1939, a remarkable period in American history saw the emergence of eight groundbreaking innovations that profoundly transformed the country. These innovations, encompassing the telephone, electric power, oil refining, automobile, airplane, radio, long-span steel bridge, and reinforced concrete building, revolutionized the way Americans lived, worked, and interacted with the world. In this comprehensive and accessible account, authors John R. Billington and Robert A. Grossman delve into the engineering behind these transformative technologies, providing a deep understanding of their development and impact.

The book begins with an exploration of Thomas Edison's system for generating and distributing electric power, laying the foundation for the subsequent innovations. The authors then delve into the Bell telephone, the oil refining processes of William Burton and Eugene Houdry, Henry Ford's Model T car, and the subsequent response by General Motors. They also discuss the Wright brothers' groundbreaking airplane, radio innovations from Marconi to Armstrong, the construction of the George Washington Bridge by Othmar Ammann, and the reinforced concrete structures of John Eastwood and Anton Tedesko.

What sets this book apart is its unique approach to introducing engineering and the thought processes of engineers. The authors integrate simple numerical ideas with short narrative accounts of each breakthrough, making the content engaging and accessible to a wide range of readers. This approach not only enhances understanding but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the ingenuity and creativity of engineers.

Throughout the book, the authors emphasize the importance of efficiency, economy, and elegance in engineering. They showcase how the best engineering exemplifies these qualities, contributing to the development of technologies that have shaped modern life. By highlighting the contributions of these innovators and their engineering prowess, Power, Speed, and Form provides a valuable resource for educators, first-year engineering students, liberal arts students, and general readers alike.

In conclusion, Power, Speed, and Form offers a captivating and informative journey into the engineering behind eight breakthrough innovations that transformed American life. By combining technical expertise with storytelling, the authors have created a book that is both accessible and engaging, providing a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history and future of engineering.

Weight: 640g
Dimension: 215 x 229 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691242408