Winner of the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books
The wonders of engineering revealed–by the inspirational female engineer behind the Shard, Western Europe’s tallest building. While our cities are full of incredible engineering feats, most of us live with little idea of what goes into creating the built environment, let alone how a new building goes up, what it is constructed upon, or how it remains standing. In Built, star structural engineer Roma Agrawal explains how construction has evolved from the mud huts of our ancestors to skyscrapers of steel that reach into the sky. She unearths how humans have tunneled through solid mountains; how we’ve walked across the widest of rivers, and tamed nature’s precious water resources. She tells vivid tales of the visionaries who created the groundbreaking materials used to build the Pantheon and the Eiffel Tower; and explains how careful engineering can minimize tragedies like the collapse of the Quebec Bridge. Interweaving science, history, illustrations, and personal stories, Built offers a fascinating window into a subject that makes up the foundation of our everyday lives.Recent Writings
- Neeli Cherkovski (1945–2024) March 20, 2024
- Can We Keep Both Fascism and Climate Doom at Bay for Decades to Come? December 15, 2023
- City Lights 70th Anniversary Programming November 21, 2023
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- 5 Questions with Robert Glück, Author of ABOUT ED November 8, 2023
- 5 Questions with Joseph Lease, Author of FIRE SEASON November 8, 2023
- 5 Questions with Benjamin Weber, Author of AMERICAN PURGATORY: Prison Imperialism and the Rise of Mass Incarceration October 30, 2023
- Scientists Pursue Climate Activism Despite Violent Threats October 26, 2023
- 5 Questions with Jonathan Lethem, Author of BROOKLYN CRIME NOVEL October 17, 2023
- 5 Questions with mimi tempestt, Author of THE DELICACY OF EMBRACING SPIRALS October 17, 2023