Engineering is part of almost everything we do – from the water we drink and the food we eat to the buildings we live in and the roads and railways we travel on. In this very brief introduction, David Blockley examines the nature and practice of engineering, its history, scope, and its relationship to art, craft, science, and technology. He considers the role of engineering in the modern world and demonstrates the importance of providing both practical and socially acceptable solutions, exploring how engineers harness natural phenomena to meet human needs. From its early roots, starting with Archimedes, through some of the great figures in engineering like Brunel and Marconi, to modern times, he also highlights some of its challenges – when things go wrong – such as in Chernobyl. Ultimately, he shows how closely engineering is connected to who we are and what we do.

About the Series: The "Very Short Introductions" series from Oxford University Press includes hundreds of titles across almost all subject areas. These handy books are the perfect way to quickly dive into a new topic. Our expert authors combine facts, analyses, perspectives, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging subjects highly readable.