{"product_id":"structures-or-why-things-dont-fall-down-9780306812835","title":"Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn a book that \u003ci\u003eBusiness Insider \u003c\/i\u003enoted as one of the \"14 Books that inspired Elon Musk,\" J.E. Gordon strips engineering of its confusing technical terms, communicating its founding principles in accessible, witty prose.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFor anyone who has ever wondered why suspension bridges don't collapse under eight lanes of traffic, how dams hold back--or give way under--thousands of gallons of water, or what principles guide the design of a skyscraper, a bias-cut dress, or a kangaroo, this book will ease your anxiety and answer your questions. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eStructures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down\u003c\/i\u003e is an informal explanation of the basic forces that hold together the ordinary and essential things of this world--from buildings and bodies to flying aircraft and eggshells. In a style that combines wit, a masterful command of his subject, and an encyclopedic range of reference, Gordon includes such chapters as \"How to Design a Worm\" and \"The Advantage of Being a Beam,\" offering humorous insights in human and natural creation. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eArchitects and engineers will appreciate the clear and cogent explanations of the concepts of stress, shear, torsion, fracture, and compression. If you're building a house, a sailboat, or a catapult, here is a handy tool for understanding the mechanics of joinery, floors, ceilings, hulls, masts--or flying buttresses. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWithout jargon or oversimplification, \u003ci\u003eStructures\u003c\/i\u003e opens up the marvels of technology to anyone interested in the foundations of our everyday lives.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eJ. E. Gordon\u003c\/b\u003e, formerly a professor at the University of Reading, was renowned for his research in plastics, crystals, and new materials.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Da Capo Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50613332803858,"sku":"9780306812835","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_94ee5994-3394-4147-90e0-309ca46728c4.jpg?v=1732396217","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/structures-or-why-things-dont-fall-down-9780306812835","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}