--- product_id: 5631529 title: "To Engineer Is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design" brand: "henry petroski" price: "103.85 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/5631529-to-engineer-is-human-the-role-of-failure-in-successful store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # To Engineer Is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design **Brand:** henry petroski **Price:** 103.85 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** To Engineer Is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design by henry petroski - **How much does it cost?** 103.85 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/5631529-to-engineer-is-human-the-role-of-failure-in-successful) ## Best For - henry petroski enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted henry petroski brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description How did a simple design error cause one of the great disasters of the 1980s - the collapse of the walkways at the Kansas City Hyatt Regency Hotel? What made the graceful and innovative Tacoma Narrows Bridge twist apart in a mild wind in 1940? How did an oversized waterlily inspire the magnificent Crystal Palace, the crowning achievement of Victorian architecture and engineering? These are some of the failures and successes that Henry Petroski, author of the acclaimed The Pencil , examines in this engaging, wonderfully literate book. More than a series of fascinating case studies, To Engineer is Human is a work that looks at our deepest notions of progress and perfection, tracing the fine connection between the quantifiable realm of science and the chaotic realities of everyday life. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Dimensions | 5.15 x 0.6 x 7.98 inches | | Isbn 10 | 0679734163 | | Isbn 13 | 978-0679734161 | | Item Weight | 9 ounces | | Language | English | | Print Length | 272 pages | | Publication Date | March 31, 1992 | | Publisher | Vintage | ## Images ![To Engineer Is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91gvT+YQ93L.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This Book Should be in Every Engineer’s Library *by on Reviewed in the United States August 8, 2019* To Engineer is Human is a masterfully written book by Henry Petroski in which he describes a wide variety of engineering failures. Petroski’s wordsmithing talent brings to life stories of structural disasters that captured headlines and created angst. While the stories of failures date back to the 1880s, the book should occupy the library shelves of present-day engineers because of its valuable reinforcement of the importance of good peer review and the benefits of meeting a reasonable standard of care throughout the design process.I appreciated Chapter 8, in which Petroski described the July 17, 1981 failure of the Kansas City Hyatt Regency’s sky walk as people danced and the band played “Satin Doll.” Petroski informs us that the collapse was due to a construction-phase design change; he provides original detail and as-built sketches of the structural beam supports that failed, showing the minor yet critical design change that led to the deaths of over 100 people.Other chapters by Petroski tell of the challenges put forth by suspension bridges such as the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (aka the Galloping Gertie), which was twisted apart in a moderate wind. Petroski diversifies the narrative with a few engineering success stories, such as the English Crystal Palace built in 1951 in London’s Hyde Park.While the book’s topic of engineering failures may seem a bit grim, the book strikes a journalistic tone. Because engineers are charged with the protection of public safety, health, and welfare, I believe that every engineer should read To Engineer is Human. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great introduction to the practice of engineering *by on Reviewed in the United States September 9, 2023* Engineering uses science but is not science. All sorts of considerations go into actual engineering design. And sometimes the decisions lead to failure, which, for all its human and economic cost, is a key factor in ongoing improvement.This book provides one of the best introductions to how failures (the Hyatt Regency walkways, the Galloping Gertie bridge, etc.) led to improved engineering methods and analysis. I highly recommend this, especially to young engineers for the lessons it provides on how engineering actually is practiced. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thorough, informative and well written *by on Reviewed in the United States March 16, 2020* “To Engineer is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design,” by Henry Petroski, Vintage Books, NY, 1992. This 251-page paperback describes the engineering design process for civil engineers especially for structures like bridges and skyscrapers.Petroski uses historical examples and recent failures to make his points. A major one is the 1981 failure of the skybridges at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City. The result was 115 killed and 200 injured–at the time the largest loss of life in an engineering failure. The very high atrium was bridged on the second, third and fourth floors to connect hotel rooms on one side to meeting rooms on the other. The second and fourth floor bridges ran on top of each other and were supported by steel rods from the ceiling. The original design had called for long rods supporting both bridges, but difficulty with a threaded nut for the upper bridge caused a design modification using two rods. The rod for the lower bridge was suspended from the upper bridge rather than from the ceiling beam. This overloaded the upper bridge resulting in a failure while people danced on the bridges.Similarly the book uses the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883 and the failure of the Tacoma Narrows bridge in 1940 to emphasize the need to consider other forces such as the effect of winds on the structure. Early railroad bridges were wood, but soon switched to iron bridges. Many failed until engineers learned to accommodate heavier loads and the reciprocating nature of steam engines. Safety factors and planning for partial failures make for successful designs. Stress cracking is described in detail. Corrosion and poor maintenance have contributed to recent bridge failures. The DC-10 crash in Chicago in 1979 was due to a stress failure of the pylon holding the engine. An unauthorized maintenance procedure had damaged the pylon causing stress cracks.Stress cracking is a factor in the service life of nuclear power plants. Flaws are difficult to detect. Radiation increases the temperature below which the steel becomes brittle. Inspection can be difficult. The design service life is based on best estimates, but catastrophic failure is possible if the cracks are undetected. A Liberty ship sank unexpectedly in World War II due to stress cracks from welding. Cracks in a set of stainless steel knives introduces the description of metal processing steps and their possible effects on cracking.Petroski notes that traditionally engineers did their design calculations with slide rules. That meant optimization of designs was a laborious process requiring repeated calculations to arrive at safe but cost effective designs. As the calculations are estimates, safety factors are commonly added. Modern computers make more precise optimization practical. That has resulted in lighter, more economical structures, but with less margin for error.The constant pressures to reduce costs force engineers to explore new materials. Engineers usually base their work on proven designs, but new materials and cost constraints drive innovation in a competitive world. Crystal Palace in Hyde Park London for the 1851 World Exposition is cited as an innovative modular design using glass walls.The book is thorough, informative and well written. The examples from the ‘80s makes it a bit dated. An update might include building failures such as the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on 911 and bridge failures such as the Minneapolis I-35 bridge in 2007 or the Miami bridge collapse in 2018. Those considering careers in engineering will want to read it. Photos. Bibliography. Index. ## Frequently Bought Together - To Engineer Is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design - The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition - Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/5631529-to-engineer-is-human-the-role-of-failure-in-successful](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/5631529-to-engineer-is-human-the-role-of-failure-in-successful) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-08-17*