Invention by Design
Henry Petroski
Reading Time
at 250 WPM4h 16m
The average reader, reading at a speed of 250 WPM, would take 4h 16m to read Invention by Design.
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9
days at 30 min/day
256
total minutes
Invention by Design
Published
1998
Publisher
Harvard University Press
Pages
256
ISBN-13
9780674257887
Description
This book explores the nature of engineering and technology through case studies of familiar objects, from paper clips and aluminum cans to airplanes and modern high-rise buildings. These real-world artifacts (some of which I have written about before) are approached here from a perspective designed to illuminate different facets of the engineering enterprise -- design, analysis, failure, economics, aesthetics, communications, politics, and quality control, to name but a few. The case studies also touch on a variety of engineering fields, including aeronautical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, manufacturing, mechanical, and structural engineering. - Preface.
Subjects
NASA/DoD aerospace knowledge diffusion research project
The ARRL handbook for the radio amateur
Computer Networks
Nuclear waste
The Soul of a New Machine
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pages are in Invention by Design?
This edition of Invention by Design has approximately 256 pages. Please note, this is an estimate and the exact page count can vary between hardcover, paperback, and e-book versions.
How long does it take to read Invention by Design?
For most readers, Invention by Design typically takes between 5h 20m and 3h 33m to complete. This is based on the book's length of approximately 64,000 words and common reading speeds.
Here's a detailed breakdown: • Continuous reading at 250 WPM: approximately 4h 16m of focused reading • Casual reading (30 minutes/day): you could finish in roughly 9 days • Estimated word count: 64,000 words
Your individual reading time will vary based on your personal reading pace, the amount of daily reading time, and your familiarity with the subject matter.
What is the word count of Invention by Design?
The estimated word count for Invention by Design is approximately 64,000 words. This figure is calculated using industry-standard methods that consider genre-specific word density patterns, typical formatting and layout characteristics, and standard words-per-page ratios for published books.
This is an approximation — actual word count may vary based on font size, formatting, edition, and the presence of illustrations or charts.
Who is the author of Invention by Design?
Invention by Design was written by Henry Petroski.
When was Invention by Design published?
The publication date for this specific edition is 1998. The original work may have been published on a different date.