The Things We Make: The Unknown History of Invention from Cathedrals to Soda Cans

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The Things We Make: The Unknown History of Invention from Cathedrals to Soda Cans
Price: S$12.70
(as of Nov 26, 2025 23:53:00 UTC – Details)


Discover the secret method used to build the world…

For millennia, humans have used one simple method to solve problems. Whether it’s planting crops, building skyscrapers, developing photographs, or designing the first microchip, all creators follow the same steps to engineer progress. But this powerful method, the “engineering method”, is an all but hidden process that few of us have heard of―let alone understand―but that influences every aspect of our lives.

Bill Hammack, a Carl Sagan award-winning professor of engineering and viral “The Engineer Guy” on Youtube, has a lifelong passion for the things we make, and how we make them. Now, for the first time, he reveals the invisible method behind every invention and takes us on a whirlwind tour of how humans built the world we know today. From the grand stone arches of medieval cathedrals to the mundane modern soda can, Hammack explains the golden rule of thumb that underlies every new building technique, every technological advancement, and every creative solution that leads us one step closer to a better, more functional world. Spanning centuries and cultures, Hammack offers a fascinating perspective on how humans engineer solutions in a world full of problems.

Perfect for readers of Adam Grant and Simon Winchester, The Things We Make is a captivating examination of the method that keeps pushing humanity forward, a spotlight on the achievements of the past, and a celebration of the potential of our future that will change the way we see the world around us.

The perfect Christmas or holiday gift for dads, uncles, engineers, scientists, and STEM enthusiasts!

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sourcebooks
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 21, 2023
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1728215757
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1728215754
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 0.93 x 8.5 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #89,690 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #6 in Engineering Patents & Inventions #8 in World History (Books) #34 in History & Philosophy of Science (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 402 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });

Customers say

Customers find the book insightful, with one review noting how it explains the logic and approach of engineering. Moreover, the book serves as a great read for engineering enthusiasts, with one customer describing it as a wonderful treatise on the humanity of engineering. Additionally, the book features interesting historical anecdotes and is easy to read.

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