Due to the ubiquitous nature of technology, it would not be wrong to say that Engineering is no longer restricted to the interest of nerds. Previously we talked about how films based on real events enlightened us a lot about science and technology . This time we are going to list some books that deserve your full attention if you are inclined towards the world of machines or if you are intrigued by some of the most interesting and informative theories introduced in the world of Science.
Here we present a list of all these non-fiction books that define some of the most inspiring and enlightening stories of personalities who have made significant contributions to the world of Science and Technology and some mind-blowing explanations of concepts that any Science lover would love. to explore.
Let's take a look at 10 non-fiction books for engineers and technology enthusiasts:
1. The Universe and Dr. Einstein
Author: Lincoln Barnett
Published in: 1948
Goodreads Rating: 4.2/5
Image Courtesy: Amazon
This book is the layman's version of Einstein's theory of relativity and easily explains his achievements in a way that anyone can understand. Without a doubt, Albert Einstein's contribution to the world of Physics and his Philosophy of Science constitute the basis for most of the concepts that have been explained in modern physics. This book gives you an insight into your achievements where you can truly understand your work and at the same time appreciate it.
They are the most readable expositions of the theory of relativity and tell about the problems he faced, the experiments that led to his theories, and his discoveries about the forces that govern the universe. He unfolds relativity and the fourth dimension with a vivid research enthusiasm.
2. The soul of a new machine
Author: Tracy Kidder
Published in: July 1981
Goodreads Ratings: 4.27/5
Image courtesy: Pinterest
This is a non-fiction book that describes the experience of a computer engineering team racing to design the next generation computer under tremendous pressure. It's the story of 35-year “veteran” engineers at Data General Design who built a new 32-bit minicomputer at the incredible pace of just 1 year. They hired college graduates and encouraged them to work harder and meet impossible deadlines on complex and difficult projects, giving way to a new kind of work ethic.
Engineers are challenged to bring a minicomputer to market in a very short time and are forced to economize on design. The work environment described in this book is quite opposite to traditional management and similar to the current scenario in organizations. However, at the time the book was published, it was surprisingly motivating and the work of the engineers was considered heroic.
3. The Codebook: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography
Author: Simon Singh
Published in: August 2000
Goodreads Rating: 4.27/5
Image Courtesy: Amazon
This book by Simon Singh tells the first comprehensive history of cryptography, tracing its origin, evolution, and the effects it has had on wars, nations, and individual lives. It would change the way you think about History and enlighten you about the importance of cryptography. It emphasizes that the most powerful intellectual weapon ever known is “secrecy”.
Throughout the book, you will be entertained by technical and mathematical explanations and portraits of some famous personalities who wrote and broke the world's most difficult codes. Includes the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, who was imprisoned by her own code; the Navajo Code Talkers who helped the Allies win World War II and the logistical advancement that made Internet commerce secure.
4. Science Martians: Five Physicists Who Changed the 20th Century
Author: István Hargittai
Published in: January 2006
Goodreads Rating: 3.69/5
Image courtesy: Barnes and Noble
As the name suggests, the book tells the story of a group of five physicists who were called “Martians”. These five physicists were:
• Theodore Von Karman: Became the first director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, providing the scientific foundation for the U.S. Air Force.
• Leo Szilard: He was the first person to see that a neutron-based chain reaction was possible. He also started the Manhattan project, but left physics to restrict nuclear weapons.
• Eugene Wigner: Won the Nobel Prize for theoretical physics.
• John Von Neumann: He could solve difficult problems in his head and developed the modern computer for more complex problems.
• Edward Teller: The father of the Hydrogen Bomb.
They were all politically active, fought against totalitarianism, had fierce opinions and influenced each other's work throughout their lives. As Istvan Hargittai was a Hungarian physical chemist, he had the opportunity to meet all these personalities, their families and contemporaries in the last years of their lives. This conveys the depth of information and his interest in Martians, making the book more realistic for readers.
5. Packing for Mars
Author: Mary Roach
Published in: August 2010
Goodreads Ratings: 3.9/5
Image Courtesy: Medium
Packing for Mars is a humorous look at how humans behave in space when they are subjected to so many challenges, such as not being able to walk, eat or do anything normally. The book argues that space exploration, to some extent, is an exploration of what it means to be human. Through this masterpiece, Roach takes readers on a fun journey into space, covering topics such as the space shuttle's training bathroom, a crash test of NASA's new space capsule, etc.
The book would interest all those who are space geeks and enjoy spending time in Science Centers or watching space documentaries. However, it would not inform him about the details of the rocket or the functioning of the life support system; instead, it talks about challenges in space regarding hygiene, safety devices, nutrition, waste disposal, etc. Interestingly, in the end it would also convince you how cool this all is and that you certainly need to go to Mars.
6. The hidden reality: parallel universes and the deep laws of the cosmos
Author: Brian Greene
Published in: January 2011
Goodreads Ratings: 4.05/5
Image Courtesy: Science Blogs
The Hidden Reality is Brian Green's longest book that answers the biggest question: is our universe the only one? Various discoveries and theories in physics and cosmology have concluded that ours is not the only universe, but rather one of many universes. Through this book, Brian explains the different “multiverse” proposals arising from theories of subatomic particles and the dark depths of space. He explains the various interpretations of the multiverse where each of us has an infinite number of doppelgangers; a place composed of a vast ocean of bubble universes, which hovers millimeters away, but remains invisible and circulates indefinitely in time; where all the possibilities allowed by quantum physics come to life or where a multiverse is purely made of mathematics.
With this exploration of parallel worlds, Greene explains how much reality is still hidden and highlights the fact that fundamental science cannot progress when there is so much reality beyond our reach. This book is very enlightening and also fun, especially for those who like analogies.
7. The Making of the Prince of Persia: Diaries 1985-1993
Author: Jordan Mechner
Published in: October 2011
Goodreads Ratings: 4/5
Image Courtesy: Amazon
Long before it became a hit video game or a Hollywood blockbuster, 'Prince of Persia' was an Apple II computer game created by Jordan Mechner. This book is actually a collection of journal entries that Jordan created while developing the game. The magazine covers the entire journey from the moment Jordan's first video game, Karateka, became a hit and he began thinking about turning that venture into a career. The book talks about all the creative, technical and personal struggles that Jordan faced that ended up contributing to the Prince's existence.
The fact that Jordan developed the game while a student at Yale University makes the book informative and inspiring. It's an incredible journey of a few scribbles on a pad of yellow lines that paves the way for the birth of a sensational modern video game character and is found in millions of homes today.
About Prince of Persia:
Prince of Persia is a popular video game franchise developed by Jordan Mechner. It is a series of action-adventure games focused on various incarnations of the eponymous prince. The series was rebooted twice to make two sequels and later adapted as a film released by Walt Disney in 2010. Since its first remake, it has been adapted into eight sequels on more than 10 gaming platforms.
8. How not to be wrong
Author: Jordan Ellenberg
Published in: May 2014
Goodreads Rating: 3.9/5
Image courtesy: Pinterest
This book combines social and economic philosophies with basic mathematics and statistical principles. In other words, it clears up our misconception about the application of mathematics. Contrary to what we think, Mathematics is not actually limited to some abstract incidents that never occur in our lives; on the contrary, it applies to almost everything we do and everything that happens in this world.
In this book, Ellenberg pursues mathematical topics across a wide range of subjects such as time and space, from the everyday to the cosmic, baseball, Reaganomics, Voltaire, daring lottery schemes, the approaching obesity apocalypse, the psychology of slime molds, the that Facebook can and can't find out about you and so on. It makes important revelations through the mathematical method of analyzing life and exposes the insights to the layman.
According to Ellenberg, mathematics is “an atomic-powered prosthesis that you can attach to your common sense, vastly multiplying its reach and strength.” The book shows how to use mathematical tools to gain a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the world.
9. Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies
Author: Nick Bostrom
Published in: September 2014
Goodreads Ratings: 3.8/5
Image Courtesy: Flipkart
Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies is a book that talks about the situation in which machine brains surpass human intelligence. It argues that whenever this happens, the new Superintelligence will replace humans as the dominant life form on Earth. The superintelligent system “far exceeds human cognition in virtually every domain of interest” and would be beyond human control.
The book finds answers to questions like what happens when machines surpass humans in general intelligence? It lays the foundation for understanding the future of humans and intelligent life. The book would engage you in a journey through the frontiers of thinking about the human condition and intelligence. It also suggests that when goals, compatible with human survival, are translated into machine-deployable code, this leads to unforeseen and undesirable consequences.
10. What If: Serious Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
Author: Randall Munroe
Published in: September 2014
Goodreads Rating: 4.16/5
Image courtesy: hustle
What If: Serious Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions is filled with humorous yet witty answers to every type of hypothetical question one could ask. It's a smart and interesting look at geeks and the world of science. Explains the laws of Science in a way that all readers will enjoy. This book is a must-read, especially for those who like to think about hypothetical things and like Science.
Bottom:
After serving at NASA as a roboticist, Randall started his website called XKCD, a webcomic that contained hilarious yet informative answers to some hypothetical questions asked by random people. His cartoons about science, technology and language, along with his thoroughly researched answers, have given him a huge fan following and made his website really popular.
This book is a compilation of all the interesting and never-heard-before questions and their intelligent explanations on these questions, such as:
• What if I swam in a pool of spent nuclear fuel?
• If we connected turbines to people exercising in gyms, how much energy could we produce?
• Are fire tornadoes possible?
He finds all the answers by running computer simulations, examining declassified military research memos, solving differential equations, and consulting with nuclear reactor operators. He explains everything from the effects of a baseball thrown at the speed of light to the number of ways someone can die while building an actual periodic table of all the elements.
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