How to find worthwhile books (with reviews) 1

[briandestefano]

Does anyone know of a good online bookstore, or even just a website with accurate reviews, for engineering books. I really don't want to spend tons of money on books that I will never use. Thanks for your time.

 

[looslib]

http://www.safaribooksonline.com

But they may be limited to computer topics.

"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli

 

[briandestefano]

I appreciate the help, but you were right about the site being limited to computer topics. I'm looking more toward structure engineering, and land development (i.e. infrastructure, wastewater treatment plants, asphalt, etc.)

 

[SomptingGuy]

You are reasonably new to eng-tips, so may not have followed (m)any of the book recommendation threads here. The site members are probably your best resource. Why not just post a "please recommend me ..." question.

- Steve

 

[RVSWA]

SomtingGuy is right about this site being one of the more useful places to get reviews and suggestions. It also helps to list the books you have at hand because many of these folks have access to more than one book and at some point were on a quest for understanding certain topics that may have created a preference for one book over another.

Here is one site that has a number of books useful in structures,

http://www.constructionbook.com/

Most of the time though I am chasing down one of the books mentioned here and I have yet to be disappointed by Amazon.

 

[Rich2001]

Some free books/collections etc. that have good information

Some additional free handbooks can be found at

http://www.eh.doe.gov/techstds/standard/standard.html

"Engineer on Disk"

http://claymore.engineer.gvsu.edu/~jackh/eod/

http://web.mit.edu/lienhard/

http://www/ahtt.html

http://www.wlv.com/products/databook/databook.pdf

http://www.slideruleera.net/index.html

Many technical society as part of the membership benefits have access to Knovel an online library.

Vita sine litteris mors est.

 

[plasgears]

Check the ASCE bookstore. My favorite is 'Sons of Martha,' a compendium of CE stories of historical note. If the bookstore is too pricey, go to Amazon with the same title.

 

[PersonalProfile]

Try Google books.

What about the book store that services any local university (I am from AUS). They typically have books which are "suitably technical" for engineers (rather than sales catalogues etc). You can have a look and or purchase it if you like.

Regards,
Lyle

 

[dougantholz]

Gee, if only I knew a forum where only engineers talked about things and discussed them. It should include books, references and software....okay you've already found this place.
Seriously this is a pretty good resource. Ask some queries in the subject forums on what books are good. There are already several threads on favorite author/book.
In structural, I like Popov for simple engineering mechanics books (statics, d-bodies). Salmon & Johnson for steel and Wang for concrete have served me well. Seismic should be something off of the SEAOC website (seaoc.org). Anything else can surely be answered here.