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Engineering in Plain Sight
by Grady Hillhouse • 2022
An illustrated field guide to the engineering secrets embedded in every street, pole, and bridge.
4.20
856
Engineering in Plain Sight Summary
Engineering in Plain Sight 95%
An illustrated field guide to the engineering secrets embedded in every street, pole, and bridge.
by Grady Hillhouse 2022
4.20
856 ratings
Smart Cities
by Anthony M. Townsend • 2013
Corporations are selling smart cities. A movement of civic hackers has a better blueprint.
3.61
817
Smart Cities Summary
Smart Cities 95%
Corporations are selling smart cities. A movement of civic hackers has a better blueprint.
by Anthony M. Townsend 2013
3.61
817 ratings
The Road Taken
by Henry Petroski • 2016
The $121 billion congestion tax: what the history of pavement says about fixing America's roads.
3.44
529
The Road Taken Summary
The Road Taken 95%
The $121 billion congestion tax: what the history of pavement says about fixing America's roads.
by Henry Petroski 2016
3.44
529 ratings
How Infrastructure Works
by Deb Chachra • 2023
The hidden networks you rely on were built for a climate that no longer exists.
3.64
937
How Infrastructure Works Summary
How Infrastructure Works 94%
The hidden networks you rely on were built for a climate that no longer exists.
by Deb Chachra 2023
3.64
937 ratings
Fiber
by Susan P. Crawford • 2018
Fiber is this century's electricity, and America skipped the wiring job.
3.87
159
Fiber Summary
Fiber 93%
Fiber is this century's electricity, and America skipped the wiring job.
by Susan P. Crawford 2018
3.87
159 ratings
Against the smart city
by Adam Greenfield • 2013
Smart cities sell efficiency but deliver surveillance. The real operating system is people.
3.96
132
Against the smart city Summary
Against the smart city 93%
Smart cities sell efficiency but deliver surveillance. The real operating system is people.
by Adam Greenfield 2013
3.96
132 ratings
Civil Engineering
by David Muir Wood • 2012
Why bridges stand and dams hold: a compact tour of civil engineering, from soil to steel.
3.61
137
Civil Engineering Summary
Civil Engineering 93%
Why bridges stand and dams hold: a compact tour of civil engineering, from soil to steel.
by David Muir Wood 2012
3.61
137 ratings
Streetfight
by Janette Sadik-Khan • 2016
Paint, data, and political nerve: beating the car-first status quo.
4.26
2k+
Streetfight Summary
Streetfight 93%
Paint, data, and political nerve: beating the car-first status quo.
by Janette Sadik-Khan 2016
4.26
2k+ ratings
The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces
by William H. Whyte • 1980
A decade of time-lapse footage on New York plazas upended every assumption about what draws a crowd.
4.33
927
The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces Summary
The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces 93%
A decade of time-lapse footage on New York plazas upended every assumption about what draws a crowd.
by William H. Whyte 1980
4.33
927 ratings
The Smart Enough City
by Ben Green • 2019
Smart cities dress up political problems as engineering ones. The fix is governance, not gadgets.
4.12
208
The Smart Enough City Summary
The Smart Enough City 93%
Smart cities dress up political problems as engineering ones. The fix is governance, not gadgets.
by Ben Green 2019
4.12
208 ratings
Cities
by Monica L. Smith • 2019
Cities were never about efficiency. They were about all the things you cannot get alone.
3.26
446
Cities Summary
Cities 93%
Cities were never about efficiency. They were about all the things you cannot get alone.
by Monica L. Smith 2019
3.26
446 ratings
Road to Nowhere
by Paris Marx • 2022
The tech-driven transportation future is a dead end. The real fix: fewer cars, better transit.
4.16
643
Road to Nowhere Summary
Road to Nowhere 93%
The tech-driven transportation future is a dead end. The real fix: fewer cars, better transit.
by Paris Marx 2022
4.16
643 ratings
How We Got to Now
by Steven Johnson • 2014
Six ordinary breakthroughs built the modern world; their biggest consequences were never planned.
4.12
16k+
How We Got to Now Summary
How We Got to Now 92%
Six ordinary breakthroughs built the modern world; their biggest consequences were never planned.
by Steven Johnson 2014
4.12
16k+ ratings
The Anarchist In The Library
by Siva Vaidhyanathan • 2004
The web set free-sharing anarchists against control-hungry oligarchs, and neither side is winning.
3.50
175
The Anarchist In The Library Summary
The Anarchist In The Library 92%
The web set free-sharing anarchists against control-hungry oligarchs, and neither side is winning.
by Siva Vaidhyanathan 2004
3.50
175 ratings
Engineers of Dreams
by Henry Petroski • 1995
America's bridges were built by dreamers, rivals, and the hard lessons of catastrophic failure.
3.78
166
Engineers of Dreams Summary
Engineers of Dreams 92%
America's bridges were built by dreamers, rivals, and the hard lessons of catastrophic failure.
by Henry Petroski 1995
3.78
166 ratings
On Power
by Robert A. Caro • 2017
How one man built a financial empire inside the government and became untouchable.
3.95
1k+
On Power Summary
On Power 92%
How one man built a financial empire inside the government and became untouchable.
by Robert A. Caro 2017
3.95
1k+ ratings
The Great Reset
by Richard Florida • 2010
Crashes rebuild how we live. Two gave us factories and suburbs. The third is remaking cities.
3.59
656
The Great Reset Summary
The Great Reset 92%
Crashes rebuild how we live. Two gave us factories and suburbs. The third is remaking cities.
by Richard Florida 2010
3.59
656 ratings
Speculative Everything
by Anthony Dunne • 2013
Most design fixes problems. This design invents fictional worlds to test-drive better ones.
4.12
999
Speculative Everything Summary
Speculative Everything 92%
Most design fixes problems. This design invents fictional worlds to test-drive better ones.
by Anthony Dunne 2013
4.12
999 ratings
Tactical Urbanism
by Mike Lydon • 2014
How to hack your city with paint, planters, and pop-up parks, and prove change is possible now.
3.99
315
Tactical Urbanism Summary
Tactical Urbanism 92%
How to hack your city with paint, planters, and pop-up parks, and prove change is possible now.
by Mike Lydon 2014
3.99
315 ratings
The Grid
by Gretchen Bakke • 2016
The clean-energy future depends on a century-old machine that was never designed to handle it.
3.86
5k+
The Grid Summary
The Grid 92%
The clean-energy future depends on a century-old machine that was never designed to handle it.
by Gretchen Bakke 2016
3.86
5k+ ratings
The Great Bridge
by David McCullough • 1972
The father died. The son collapsed. The daughter-in-law stepped in and built the Brooklyn Bridge.
4.26
19k+
The Great Bridge Summary
The Great Bridge 92%
The father died. The son collapsed. The daughter-in-law stepped in and built the Brooklyn Bridge.
by David McCullough 1972
4.26
19k+ ratings
You Are Not a Gadget
by Jaron Lanier • 2010
The internet reduces people to data points. The people who built it call that wisdom.
3.57
6k+
You Are Not a Gadget Summary
You Are Not a Gadget 92%
The internet reduces people to data points. The people who built it call that wisdom.
by Jaron Lanier 2010
3.57
6k+ ratings
The Things We Make
by Bill Hammack • 2023
Engineering isn't applied science: it's the art of solving problems before anyone understands them.
3.75
1k+
The Things We Make Summary
The Things We Make 91%
Engineering isn't applied science: it's the art of solving problems before anyone understands them.
by Bill Hammack 2023
3.75
1k+ ratings
Program or Be Programmed
by Douglas Rushkoff • 2010
Digital tools have biases. If you can't read their code, someone else writes your behavior.
3.72
2k+
Program or Be Programmed Summary
Program or Be Programmed 91%
Digital tools have biases. If you can't read their code, someone else writes your behavior.
by Douglas Rushkoff 2010
3.72
2k+ ratings
Master Switch
by Tim Wu • 2010
Telephone, radio, film, TV: each began open and ended a monopoly. The internet is next.
3.89
8k+
Master Switch Summary
Master Switch 91%
Telephone, radio, film, TV: each began open and ended a monopoly. The internet is next.
by Tim Wu 2010
3.89
8k+ ratings
The Evolution of Useful Things
by Henry Petroski • 1994
Annoyance, not function, gave us forks, zippers, paper clips. The real driver of everyday design.
3.52
1k+
The Evolution of Useful Things Summary
The Evolution of Useful Things 91%
Annoyance, not function, gave us forks, zippers, paper clips. The real driver of everyday design.
by Henry Petroski 1994
3.52
1k+ ratings
How to Fix the Future
by Andrew Keen • 2017
The digital revolution feels unprecedented. It isn't. The fix is the same as last time.
3.36
273
How to Fix the Future Summary
How to Fix the Future 91%
The digital revolution feels unprecedented. It isn't. The fix is the same as last time.
by Andrew Keen 2017
3.36
273 ratings
The People's Platform
by Astra Taylor • 2012
Digital abundance set culture free and made it cheap. Platforms got rich; creators got precarious.
4.04
610
The People's Platform Summary
The People's Platform 91%
Digital abundance set culture free and made it cheap. Platforms got rich; creators got precarious.
by Astra Taylor 2012
4.04
610 ratings
Palaces for the People
by Eric Klinenberg • 2018
Stronger than seawalls: the shared spaces that hold communities together when everything breaks.
3.97
5k+
Palaces for the People Summary
Palaces for the People 91%
Stronger than seawalls: the shared spaces that hold communities together when everything breaks.
by Eric Klinenberg 2018
3.97
5k+ ratings
Too Big to Know
by David Weinberger • 2012
Knowledge on paper was settled and scarce. Online, it is abundant, linked, and never finished.
3.80
2k+
Too Big to Know Summary
Too Big to Know 91%
Knowledge on paper was settled and scarce. Online, it is abundant, linked, and never finished.
by David Weinberger 2012
3.80
2k+ ratings
Move Fast and Break Things
by Jonathan Taplin • 2017
How three digital monopolies gutted music and news, and why democracy is their next casualty.
3.59
2k+
Move Fast and Break Things Summary
Move Fast and Break Things 91%
How three digital monopolies gutted music and news, and why democracy is their next casualty.
by Jonathan Taplin 2017
3.59
2k+ ratings
The Book on the Bookshelf
by Henry Petroski • 1999
Why books once faced the wall and wore chains: the bookshelf as a history of engineering.
3.75
1k+
The Book on the Bookshelf Summary
The Book on the Bookshelf 91%
Why books once faced the wall and wore chains: the bookshelf as a history of engineering.
by Henry Petroski 1999
3.75
1k+ ratings
The New Digital Age
by Eric Schmidt • 2013
Five billion new internet users will change war, privacy, and revolution forever.
3.33
3k+
The New Digital Age Summary
The New Digital Age 91%
Five billion new internet users will change war, privacy, and revolution forever.
by Eric Schmidt 2013
3.33
3k+ ratings
Radical Cities
by Justin McGuirk • 2014
The slums and squatter towers of Latin America are the world's most daring urban experiments.
4.27
434
Radical Cities Summary
Radical Cities 91%
The slums and squatter towers of Latin America are the world's most daring urban experiments.
by Justin McGuirk 2014
4.27
434 ratings
Amusing Ourselves to Death
by Neil Postman • 1985
The real danger isn't censorship. It's a culture so entertained it forgets how to think.
4.17
39k+
Amusing Ourselves to Death Summary
Amusing Ourselves to Death 91%
The real danger isn't censorship. It's a culture so entertained it forgets how to think.
by Neil Postman 1985
4.17
39k+ ratings
Humans of New York
by Brandon Stanton • 2015
Ten thousand New Yorkers, one photographer, and the question that revealed a city's hidden soul.
4.55
20k+
Humans of New York Summary
Humans of New York 91%
Ten thousand New Yorkers, one photographer, and the question that revealed a city's hidden soul.
by Brandon Stanton 2015
4.55
20k+ ratings
Nexus
by Yuval Noah Harari • 2024
The history of information is the history of power. The next chapter has no human author.
4.16
52k+
Nexus Summary
Nexus 91%
The history of information is the history of power. The next chapter has no human author.
by Yuval Noah Harari 2024
4.16
52k+ ratings
Dignity in a Digital Age
by Ro Khanna • 2022
Five cities captured 90% of tech job growth. The case for creating digital opportunity everywhere.
3.71
149
Dignity in a Digital Age Summary
Dignity in a Digital Age 91%
Five cities captured 90% of tech job growth. The case for creating digital opportunity everywhere.
by Ro Khanna 2022
3.71
149 ratings
The Gutenberg Parenthesis
by Jeff Jarvis • 2023
Before print, knowledge was conversation. Then books fenced it in. The fences are coming down.
3.83
218
The Gutenberg Parenthesis Summary
The Gutenberg Parenthesis 91%
Before print, knowledge was conversation. Then books fenced it in. The fences are coming down.
by Jeff Jarvis 2023
3.83
218 ratings
The Geography of Genius
by Eric Weiner • 2016
Why Athens, Renaissance Florence, and Silicon Valley each erupted with genius at particular moments.
3.80
4k+
The Geography of Genius Summary
The Geography of Genius 91%
Why Athens, Renaissance Florence, and Silicon Valley each erupted with genius at particular moments.
by Eric Weiner 2016
3.80
4k+ ratings
The Future of the Internet--And How to Stop It
by Jonathan L. Zittrain • 2008
Wikipedia and malware share one cause: an open internet. The locked-down alternative kills both.
3.86
1k+
The Future of the Internet--And How to Stop It Summary
The Future of the Internet--And How to Stop It 91%
Wikipedia and malware share one cause: an open internet. The locked-down alternative kills both.
by Jonathan L. Zittrain 2008
3.86
1k+ ratings
Triumph of the City
by Edward L. Glaeser • 2011
Poverty flocks to cities because cities are the escape route. The economic case for density.
3.91
6k+
Triumph of the City Summary
Triumph of the City 91%
Poverty flocks to cities because cities are the escape route. The economic case for density.
by Edward L. Glaeser 2011
3.91
6k+ ratings
The Rise of the Creative Class
by Richard Florida • 2004
Jobs once followed factories. Now a class of creatives clusters in the most tolerant cities.
3.68
3k+
The Rise of the Creative Class Summary
The Rise of the Creative Class 91%
Jobs once followed factories. Now a class of creatives clusters in the most tolerant cities.
by Richard Florida 2004
3.68
3k+ ratings
Privacy is Power
by Carissa Véliz • 2020
Your data is not the product; it's the toxic spill that's eroding your freedom.
4.02
1k+
Privacy is Power Summary
Privacy is Power 91%
Your data is not the product; it's the toxic spill that's eroding your freedom.
by Carissa Véliz 2020
4.02
1k+ ratings
The Great Inversion and the Future of the American City
by Alan Ehrenhalt • 2012
American metros are inverting: affluence returns downtown, immigrants settle the suburbs.
3.77
678
The Great Inversion and the Future of the American City Summary
The Great Inversion and the Future of the American City 91%
American metros are inverting: affluence returns downtown, immigrants settle the suburbs.
by Alan Ehrenhalt 2012
3.77
678 ratings
The Pencil
by Henry Petroski • 1992
A pencil hides centuries of engineering failures, global trade, and the secret to good design.
3.80
657
The Pencil Summary
The Pencil 91%
A pencil hides centuries of engineering failures, global trade, and the secret to good design.
by Henry Petroski 1992
3.80
657 ratings
The Edifice Complex
by Deyan Sudjic • 2006
From Hitler's Reich Chancellery to the Bilbao Guggenheim, what monuments are really for.
3.8
380
The Edifice Complex Summary
The Edifice Complex 91%
From Hitler's Reich Chancellery to the Bilbao Guggenheim, what monuments are really for.
by Deyan Sudjic 2006
3.8
380 ratings
Everything Is Miscellaneous
by David Weinberger • 2007
Atoms forced one shelf per book. Bits let every fact live in many places at once.
3.74
2k+
Everything Is Miscellaneous Summary
Everything Is Miscellaneous 91%
Atoms forced one shelf per book. Bits let every fact live in many places at once.
by David Weinberger 2007
3.74
2k+ ratings
Coding Freedom
by Gabriella Coleman • 2012
They built a free software revolution while insisting they were not political at all.
3.82
280
Coding Freedom Summary
Coding Freedom 91%
They built a free software revolution while insisting they were not political at all.
by Gabriella Coleman 2012
3.82
280 ratings
Discursive Design
by Bruce M. Tharp • 2019
What if your toaster had an opinion? A field guide to design that argues.
4.36
25
Discursive Design Summary
Discursive Design 91%
What if your toaster had an opinion? A field guide to design that argues.
by Bruce M. Tharp 2019
4.36
25 ratings
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