Book of the Week: Structures: Or Why Things Don’t Fall Down (J.E. Gordon)

Rafiq Omair

Book of the Week: Structures: Or Why Things Don’t Fall Down (J.E. Gordon)

1. Quick Overview
Author: J.E. Gordon
Publisher: Da Capo Press (2003)
Reading Level: Undergraduate / general engineering audience
Cost: Approximately $12–30 (e-book or paperback)
Why it’s worth reading: A classic, witty guide to how structures work and why some collapse while others endure.

2. What It’s About
J.E. Gordon explains the physics of strength, stability, and stress with clarity and humor. Through examples ranging from bridges and bones to cathedrals and airplanes, he introduces essential concepts like tension, compression, and elasticity.

What makes the book exceptional is how accessible it is. Gordon humanizes engineering, showing how design failures teach critical lessons about creativity and resilience. It is an ideal starting point for students or readers curious about how physics meets design.

3. Memorable Moment or Quote
"Structures are not just technical achievements, they are the visible shape of human thought."
This quote reminds us that engineering is as much a creative act as it is a scientific one.

4. Where to Find It
Available through Da Capo Press, Amazon, and most libraries.

5. If You Liked This Book...

To Engineer Is Human by Henry Petroski
Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

6. If You Want to Go Deeper
Read Skunk Works by Ben Rich for real-world examples of advanced engineering innovation.