Originally published on December 14, 2022; updated on November 10, 2023.
We'll tell you about Bookstore Day and give you some recommendations 6 Very Interesting Books on Engineering and Construction to Give as Gifts This Christmas.
Bookstore Day: Discover 6 Books on Engineering
Did you know that there's a Bookstore Day? Well, yes, in fact, it's been held 11 times, but it wasn't until 2021 when it was decided to set a fixed date on the calendar, regardless of the day of the week. We are currently mired in the digital age And for this reason, it is more necessary than ever to dedicate a day to these important cultural spaces.
In this article, we'll show you When is Bookstore Day?, what its purpose is, and we'll also recommend Five Books on Engineering to give as gifts this coming Christmas.
Photo: Bookstore Day
When is Bookstore Day, and why is it celebrated?
November 11 to honor the work of these businesses. The celebration is organized by the Spanish Confederation of Booksellers' Guilds and Associations (CEGAL), with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports. The goal of this day is simply to encourage the public to view bookstores as a welcoming environment where you can experience culture.
Bookstore Day also aims to change the perception of outdated spaces, since these businesses have been able to adapt to the market's new needs by offering very interesting solutions to consumers. For example, they can offer online consulting services in a society that has become increasingly digital.
6 Engineering Book Ideas to Give as Gifts or Read This Christmas
Christmas is coming, and it's not just a time when we traditionally exchange gifts with our loved ones, but also It increases the free time we can devote to enriching activities. One such activity could be reading, and it is one of the most highly recommended ways for Christmas break with the family.
In this article, we're sharing a recommendation with you From the Structuralia team: Engineering Books for Christmas or Three Kings Day, whether for your own enjoyment or as a great gift idea this holiday season. Or, really, any time of year, since reading always contributes to personal and professional growth. Plus, books are the perfect gift—they never go out of style and never disappoint. A perfect gift, not only for engineering and architecture students, but also for professionals in the field who want to stay up to date and explore new perspectives.
1. Engineering Is Human: The Importance of Failure in Design Success
When an engineer is designing a part or a structure on which people's lives will later depend, it is only natural that thoughts of doubt in light of the possibility that they may have made a mistake.
In this regard, and through an analysis of some of the most famous court rulings in history, such as, for example, the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Henry Petroski offers us a different perspective on engineering failures throughout his book, linking them to the attempt to push the boundaries of what is known.
2. Structures, or Why Things Don't Fall Over
Written by John E. Gordon, a professor of Materials Science at the University of Reading, this book provides a conceptual and historical overview of the properties of different types of structures that exist.
With a lighthearted narrative and hardly any use of mathematical formulas, it manages to explain concepts such as tension, compression, shear, or bending and how structural systems such as arches, beams, dams, or bridges.
3. An engineer imagines
Titled in English as An engineer imagines, it is an autobiographical book by the structural engineer Peter Rice. It is considered one of the most important structural engineers of the 20th century, thanks in part to projects such as the Sydney Opera House.
In it, memories of his youth and his relationships with other engineers and architects he worked with are interwoven with Reflections on Engineering and Research to create new structural and architectural forms that have undoubtedly left their mark on the planet.
4. 100 Buildings of the 20th Century. The Now Institute
If you're interested in construction and architecture, this is your best option. It's an overview of the great architects who have shaped 20th-century architecture so far, through his work all over the world.
Buildings of all kinds are shown and explained: housing developments, museums, shopping centers, and even an airport; all along with the corresponding graphic and technical documentation, all curated and edited by The Now Institute, an urban research center within the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of California, Los Angeles.
5. The Parrot Theorem: A Novel for Learning Math
Who said math was boring? We're also bringing you this novel by the mathematician and writer, Denis Guedj which will prove us wrong. In it, an unconventional family led by an 84-year-old intellectual named M. Ruche, He will embark on a journey of discovery that will feature some of the best math books of all time.
Using this central theme, the writer is able to take a look at the history of mathematics through flashbacks to the lives of famous mathematicians.
5. The Thinking Hand: Existential and Bodily Wisdom in Architecture
We wrap up our list of recommendations with this interesting look at the Architect Juhani Pallasmaa on the hand and its role in the design and development of ideas, and because they have been a fundamental part of human skills, abilities, and ways of thinking.
The author highlights those seemingly autonomous and unconscious mechanisms that we carry out with our hands and their influence on art, writing, crafts, and, of course, design.
From Structuralia We wish you happy holidays, and that you can make the most of them—perhaps by reading some of these books on engineering and architecture and sharing them with others colleagues in the industry for anyone who might be interested. And why not? Maybe this has made it easier for you to choose a gift for Christmas or Three Kings Day. If you're still having trouble making up your mind, maybe you could give one of our courses and master's programs from Structuralia as well as the Master's Degree in Civil Infrastructure Engineering. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask information.
