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Applied Minds

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Applied Minds

How Engineers Think

W.W. Norton,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Guru Madhavan’s sketch of the “engineering mind-set” reveals the world of problem solvers, innovators and inventors.

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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Innovative

Recommendation

Biomedical engineer Guru Madhavan’s overview of the “engineering mind-set” dives into the world of problem solvers, innovators and inventors. He explains a lot about urban planning, medical research and advances in the finance industry. Madhavan highlights key terms and concepts by introducing a cast of more or less illustrious personages. Examples from history, different continents and a variety of disciplines bring his arguments to life. His storytelling from inside engineering is more revealing than his lighter conclusions about how engineers think. getAbstract recommends this compact read to students, policy makers, architects, medical researchers and anyone who frequently interacts with engineers.

Summary

“Engineering Mind-Set”

Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval was an 18th-century engineer who worked for the French military. Gribeauval was obsessed over technical detail. He often imagined different ways to improve various instruments and devices.

At the time, cannons were crucial weapons of warfare, but their weight made moving them across battlefields prohibitive. Gribeauval introduced a height-adjusting mechanism, cast-iron axles, larger wheels and leather straps that enabled soldiers to move, adjust and aim French cannons more easily, thus improving their overall force and usefulness. He was not a military mind, but he demonstrated how engineering can find solutions in any field.

Gribeauval’s mix of approaches and techniques encompassed the three core elements of the engineering mind-set:

  1. “Structure” – Detect problematic patterns and visualize the unseen. Ask questions about limits, risks and payoffs to define your concrete aims.
  2. “Constraints” – Become aware of everyday limits. Determine the best possible solution under the given circumstances.
  3. “Trade-offs” – Prioritize design ...

About the Author

A distinguished researcher at the National Academy of Sciences, Guru Madhavan is a biomedical engineer and senior policy adviser.

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