The Civilized Engineer

by Samuel C. Florman

Book Overview

Civil engineer Samuel Forman's The Civilized Engineer is aimed at both those observing and commenting externally on engineering, and the practicing engineer--to reveal something of the art behind... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312001142
• ISBN13: 9780312001148
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 258 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Must reading for engineers

Although somewhat dated, the concepts and basic message are timeless and presented in a very readable fashion. Helps round out an engineer's education.

passionate and introspective

This is an excellent book for anyone who's ever wanted to take a look into the mind of an engineer. Many of the examples are outdated and the later capters degrade into seemingy-endless lobbying for increased integration of liberal arts into engineering education (a noble, but unrealistic goal). However, this book provides insight into the engineering profession by asking questions that all engineers should ask themselves (but many may not have). Questions such as: what makes and engineer an engineer? how did engineering develop from its early days as informal apprenticeships into a "civilized" profession? how does an engineer balance the demands of his/her employer against his/her own conscience? One may not always agree with the answers given, nonetheless, the questions provide insight into what makes at least one engineer tick. As an engineer, I could identify with the author and his quest for self understanding. This book provides a refreshing alternative to the "nerdy" image with which engineers are often identified. It provides a chance to view the "anonymous profession" of engineering as a sum of its individual parts. Yes, as professionals engineers must be exact, but we must also be creative. Yes, engineers must be loyal to their employer and work from withing the system, but as individuals, we carry with us our individual identities, political ideals, and codes of honor. Yes, we must learn math and science (and dare I that many of us even enjoy doing so), but many of us also enjoy literature, music, art, and other "liberal" studies. This book proves that at least one engineer can WRITE a well-researched book that is also enjoyable to read. Indeed an engineer can be both technically competent and civilized.

The Essential Florman

Samual Florman is graceful and balanced writer, as well as a very proud and sensible practicing civil engineer. All of his writing is well worth reading, especially for professional humanists wisely or foolishly spooked by technology, which is not going away, but this one gets to the heart of ancient and impending problems. Florman notes a cultural disrespect, perhaps fading by now, for his profession and looks within, especially at the standard American university engineering curriculum, rather than simply, and simple-mindedly, assigning all blame to others. What a concept! Recommended for all ages and prejudices.

Much better than "To Engineer is Human."

This book has probably changed my future some what. I am a pre-eingineering student, and found this book very approprate. It made me want to avoid being just a number cruncher, and proved to be that those english and pilosophy classes were not a waste of time. The best thing about this book was that it actually had a point, and stuck to it.

The Critically Thinking Engineer

To call this book a classic would be stretching the metaphor a bit. It's audience is, perhaps inappropriately, far too small. But, for those engineers who may wish to understand their academic training and subsequent practice as more than a vocational exercise will appreciate Florman's thesis, and may even be profoundly changed by it. Florman takes great care in describing how engineers, as creative artists, are not immune from the so-called "liberal arts", and can actually benefit from them. Engineers need critical thinking. The author was able to teach me that, even though I don't practice engineering, the intellectual stimulation I felt while studying it is an invaluable asset. That stimulation encouraged me to continue--to satisfy that innate curiosity independent of subject. Technology has an intangible element that Florman captures and describes beautifully.