Engineering is a big part of my life. I often dig back into my past to gain perspective on my journey. When I decided to become an engineer, the first book I read was Engineering and the Mind’s Eye by Eugene S. Ferguson. I read this book back in 2011, when I was 17. I don’t remember my rationale for choosing this book. Thinking back, there were certainly other books, or information, that would have benefited me. Regardless of the reason for choosing it, I don’t regret it at all.
This book was not very technical, if at all. The topics don’t even cover my area of engineering, it being more focused on the classical mechanical and civil engineering works. It was very historical, giving an account of the arts being an integral part of engineering education. It was filled with many engineering designs and drawings and spoke of the skills early engineers had to display their mental images and ideas in physical medium, using the same tools and techniques of the artists of their day. In some cases those highlighted in the book were just as much artists as they were scientists or engineers.
I have only read completely through the book once, back when i brought it. I often go back to it just to look at the drawings, and read about some of the passages to reunite with that wondrous focus I had when reading it the first time.
I appreciate the book’s perspective on the importance of artistry and visualization for both a practicing engineer, an student of engineering, and the non-engineer.
Checkout the book on Amazon and read through the reviews, others enjoyed it as well.
Booman's Workshop 