Built
By Roma Agrawal
The Hidden Stories Behind Our Structures. Bloomsbury, 2019.
Summary of Built book by Roma Agrawal
A novel introduction to structural engineering through engrossing accounts spanning amazing ancient buildings to today’s modern marvels, and an exploration of what engineers could be planning for our future.
Chapters in Built book summary
What do you get from this book? How innovative, brilliant-minded engineers design force-defying structures to stand long and strong
Getting inside the mind of an engineer will help you understand what they are up against
Designing a strong structure isn’t easy given the forces that are bent on destroying it
Clay, an ancient natural resource, is the origin of bricks
Metals—especially steel—don’t crack like brick and mortar, making them ideal for construction
Concrete is an incredibly sturdy and versatile material with a long history
Skyscrapers are engineering triumphs that got their start in AD 300 Rome
What lies underground is as important as what’s constructed above it
Our planet, with its three dimensions, makes it possible to build up and down instead of just sideways
The pursuit of life-sustaining pure, fresh water is a never-ending task for engineers
Sanitizing our waste helps stop the dangerous contamination of our bodies of water, as London’s unsavory history shows
The first woman to oversee a major construction site has, to her credit, a masterpiece: the Brooklyn Bridge
Engineers have enriched the world for centuries with their unique bridge designs
The future will bring new engineering technologies and sleek structures inspired by the complexities of nature
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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Built — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Built book
- Anyone interested in engineering
- women breaking into predominantly male STEM fields
- those who work in construction
About the author of Built
Roma Agrawal
Roma Agrawal is an Indian-British-American structural engineer and international award recipient based in London; she has an impressive portfolio of projects, from footbridges to skyscrapers and many structures in between. Agrawal is an advocate for engineering and technical careers for young people; an advisor on science education; a worldwide presenter; and a writer on engineering, education, and leadership.
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Ian Stewart
17 Equations That Changed the World. Basic Books, 2012.
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