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voxlunae's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.25
So interesting! I kept looking out my apartment windows at utility poles, train tracks, ditches, and other bits of infrastructure to see what was being discussed irl. Really digestible and neat.
blueberrybanana's review
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
I really liked this one! As someone who knows nothing about engineering, I learned a lot - and I like looking around and seeing what I notice from the book. I think if you are an engineer/know about engineering this might not be in depth enough, but it was exactly what I was looking for.
rodcasts's review
5.0
Engineering in Plain Sight is the best introduction you’ll get to the constructed environment around you. If you were ever curious about how a port works, what are all the cables in a transmission line, how a tunnel is constructed and what are all the construction machines in a site, this book is a must-read. It is said that reading three books in a given subject make you more knowledgeable in the topic than 95% of people - forget about that here. Just read this one and you’ll know more than 99% of people (and can even show off your civil engineering knowledge on a daily basis).
chris_sanny's review
4.0
Fun book! Gives 3 page explanations of a huge variety of civil engineering projects, tools, and activities. Not all the sections are interesting though, and it straddles an odd line between reference and explainer.
Decent as a coffee table book though!
Decent as a coffee table book though!
schnoebs13's review
informative
medium-paced
4.5
I think this is an absolutely amazing book that really helps to visualize so many parts of our urban environment that get heavily ignored due to them being either hidden or completely underground. I loved how well thought out each section was and the visuals that came along with each topic. Definitely a great resource for any planner and will be keeping it at my office for future use!
teal_axolotl's review
3.0
This book offers an overview of utilities (electricity, water, comms), transportation (rail, roads) and some of the most vital structures (bridges, dams, coastal infrastructure), supplementing the text with good illustrations. Author covers a broad range of topics, but doesn't go in-depth on them, making the book seem more geared towards younger readers. It appears rather superficial, but would probably be enough to get someone uninitiated interested in civil engineering.
My greatest disappoinment was the discovery of Acknowledgments section, which indicated the end of the book at 70% of page count.
My greatest disappoinment was the discovery of Acknowledgments section, which indicated the end of the book at 70% of page count.