Structures, or, Why things don't fall down
by James Edward Gordon · first published 1981
71% recommend29% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Readable, plain-English introduction to structural engineering and how materials carry loads, with examples that made real structures click for engineering students and laypeople alike; suits curious non-specialists.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2009–2023The new science of strong materials, or, Why you don't fall through the floor
James Edward Gordon
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 44 recommend · 4 mention4 recommend · 44 recommend
2019–2026The Perfectionists
Simon Winchester
Recommended by 24 · mentioned by 2924 recommend · 29 mention24 recommend · 2924 recommend
2009–2024The planiverse
A.K. Dewdney
Recommended by 9 · mentioned by 139 recommend · 13 mention9 recommend · 139 recommend
2015–2026Systems of survival
Jane Jacobs
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 105 recommend · 10 mention5 recommend · 105 recommend
2013–2026Uncle Tungsten
Oliver Sacks
Recommended by 12 · mentioned by 1412 recommend · 14 mention12 recommend · 1412 recommend
2010–2025A short history of progress
Ronald Wright
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 164 recommend · 16 mention4 recommend · 164 recommend
2010–2026The Reality Dysfunction
Peter F. Hamilton
Recommended by 13 · mentioned by 1813 recommend · 18 mention13 recommend · 1813 recommend
2008–2025Einstein's dreams
Alan P. Lightman
Recommended by 15 · mentioned by 2215 recommend · 22 mention15 recommend · 2215 recommend
For anyone who found this video satisfying, you may enjoy "Structures : Or Why Things Don't Fall Down" by Gordon.
on “Testing the strength of different wood species” ↗I should probably enforce a limit on the number of times I'm allowed to plug this book on HN every year: J.E. Gordon's Structures, Or Why Things Don't Fall Down http://www.amazon.com/Structures-Things-Dont-Fall-Down/dp/03... It's not exactly a young book, but it's newer than the Bay Bridge...
on “What's Going on at the Bay Bridge” ↗…turned fifty this year. Many of my friends are older than the laser. Many of its early pioneers are still wandering around. Look up the early years of engineering. Read certain chapters of the excellent Structures, or Why Things Don't Fall Down, or for a more personal view check out Chapter 20 of Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi: http://www.classicreader.com/book/2886/21/ The early history of tall buildings is the history of towers falling…
on “You're a Bad Programmer. Embrace It.” ↗…structures really made so much sense to me, as a student of engineering, in a way that the fustian delivery of the professors at college did not. Some books stay with you for life - this one did for me. [1] Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down by J.E. Gordon. Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/245344.Structures
on “Ask HN: Which book can attract anyone towards your field of study?” ↗Five (or six) good books about five different sciences: Materials Science: Gordon, Structures, or Why Things Don't Fall Down. Linguistics: Pinker, The Language Instinct Evolutionary Biology: Dawkins, The Blind Watchmaker Molecular Biology: David Clark, Molecular Biology Made Simple and Fun Physics: the canonical answer…
on “5 Great Science Books to Expand Your Mind” ↗…neroscience - and lots of practial demonstrations of how your eyes and brain work. - Daniel Dennett "Consciousness Explained" How the mind works? - J.E Gordon: "The new Science of Strog Materials" & " Structures, or why things don't fall down." How is 'stuff' strong/hard? - Steve Grand: "Creation" & "Growing up with Lucy" The programmer behind the game 'Creatures' and his adventures in artificial life. - Joseph Campbell: "The Hero with…
on “Ask HN: Interesting (Non software) books?” ↗…movies? And if you're going to throw movies in here, why not games or music?) And it is painfully short on actual, you know, tech. No K&R? No introduction to quantum mechanics? No Art of Electronics? No Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down? You would think there might be room in the canon for some actual science or engineering. Still, upmodded as a fun list of things to read. Just because it doesn't live up to its bombastic title doesn't…
on “The Tech Canon” ↗Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down, also by J.E. Gordon, is the macroscopic plain-English version. Highly recommend it. I once described it as "Civil Engineering for Dummies", and the chemical engineer across the table from me said…
on “The Superpowers of Super-Thin Materials” ↗Coincidences, Chaos, and All That Math Jazz: Making Light of Weighty Ideas (Burger, Starbird) Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down (Gordon)
on “Ask HN: Recommended non-technical reading” ↗Appreciate the recommendation. I haven't read much on this topic, but the two I've liked so far: Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down by J.E. Gordon https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/245344.Structures Science and the City https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28260428-science-and-the...
on “Structural engineers are unsung heroes” ↗…Derek Howse - Greenwich Time. On why there was (is!) a need for GMT, how it evolved, how it was utilized - and how it was kept. Brilliant engineering porn for those of a horological bent. J.E. Gordon - Structures: Or why things don't fall down. Eminently readable on structural engineering, explaining concepts and methodology, delivered with the dry wit of a British don. Mary Elise Sarotte - Collapse. On how -hm- accidental the fall of the…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?” ↗Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down by J.E. Gordon. As an engineering student I found the insights and examples in this book by an aeronautical engineer helped me greatly in really understanding structures. Much better than the dry academical…
on “Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read?” ↗- Structural engineering - "Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down" J.E. Gordon - Rocket engineering and history - "Ignition!: An informal history of liquid rocket propellants" John Drury Clark
on “Ask HN: What books got you curious and inspired about fields other than CS?” ↗Book tip: "Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down" by J. E. Gordon. As a layman, I greatly enjoyed this one as a primer.
on “New lightweight material is stronger than steel” ↗One further book that might be of interest (though only tangentially related) is Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down by J. E. Gordon.
on “Autonomous Excavator Constructs a Six-Metre-High Dry-Stone Wall” ↗