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The Best Engineering Books

Engineering IRL Ultimate List of Engineering Books

Wondering which is the best Engineering Book? We have curated a bunch of the best engineering books for you that specifically are for engineers.

The focus is on books that an individual engineer would benefit from but won't be a list of text books. 

Here's the 3 areas an engineer reads books for:

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  1. Engineering Technical Skills

  2. Engineering Soft Skills

  3. Engineer as a Person

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Engineering Books for Technical Skills

Subject Matter Expertise, Technology, Industry, Meta Engineering

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Engineering Books for Soft Skills

Management, Business, Leadership, Communication, Innovation

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Engineering Books for Engineers as a Person

Career, Life Balance, Success, Personal Finance, History, Legacy

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Have a book to share with us? Contact us and let us know.

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10+1 Steps to Problem Solving

An Engineer's Guide

A Problem Solving Methodology for Engineers to consistently solve problems faster.

Engineering Books for Technical Skills

Meta Engineering

Andrew Sario >

The stories I share on the book are based on my real experiences and I hope you can draw your own lessons from them!

Keen on Retirement - Engineering the sec

Keen on Retirement

Engineering the Second Half of Your Life

How Engineers can build wealth, draw a plan, build an engine and enjoy the best half of their lives.

Engineering Books for Engineers as a Person

Personal Finance

Bill Keen >

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The Effective Engineer

How to Leverage Your Efforts in Software Engineering to Make a Disproportionate and Meaningful Impact

Guiding engineers to maximize their impact through a framework called leverage. Mindsets and tactical strategies for engineers.

Engineering Books for Technical Skills

Meta Engineering

Edmond Lau >

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Engineer Your Own Success

7 Key Elements to Creating an Extraordinary Engineering Career

A breakdown for how engineers can approach their careers from the beginning to set themselves up for success.

Engineering Books for Engineers as a Person

Career

Anthony Fasano >

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Exactl - How Precision Engineers Created

Exactly

How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World

An excellent walk through engineering history pointing out the direct correlation of precision engineering and the advancement of the modern world we live in.

Engineering Books for Engineers as a Person

History

Simon Winchester >

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She Engineers

Outsmart Bias, Unlock your Potential, and Create the Engineering Career of your Dreams

Building a successful engineering career setting your mindset, overcoming limiting beliefs and how to navigate as a female in engineering.

Engineering Books for Engineers as a Person

Career

Stephanie Slocum >

Learn more about what Stephanie has going on at her site and get the first chapter for free. Find out more about her journey at engineersrising.com

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People Skills for Engineers

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Prepare yourself for the interpersonal challenges that you will inevitably encounter while working alongisde other engineers and engineering managers.

Engineering Books for Soft Skills

Communication

Tony Munson

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The Business of Engineering - A New Mind

The Business of Engineering

A New Mindset for the Engineer of the Future

Learn the unique parallels between business and engineering strategies. As an engineering leader he shows you how engineers can utilize business techniques to increase career potential.

Engineering Books for Soft Skills

Business

Matthew Loos >

From the Author:

"The Business of Engineering is a concept, a frame of mind, and ultimately a movement. It is the idea that, just as construction, technology, and science have evolved over the years, so must the engineers of the present and future."

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"This book is meant to provide the present-day engineer with the tools necessary to advance in their career during this ever-changing period in history. Like a mentor of mine once told me, we were not just engineers… we are in the business of engineering."

Engineering and the Mind's Eye (The MIT

Engineering and the Mind's Eye

The MIT Press

Systems of Engineering Management

Engineering Books for Soft Skills

Innovation

Eugene S. Ferguson

The book is concerned with development of the individual as a professional, rather than as someone having a technical skill set.

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The Existential Pleasures of Engineering

Second Edition

A practical, creative and even amusing philosophy of engineering that boasts of pride in the craft. An exploration of how engineers think and feel about their profession. Correcting the myth that engineering is cold and passionless.

Engineering Books for Engineers as a Person

Legacy

Samuel C. Florman

The book is concerned with development of the individual as a professional, rather than as someone having a technical skill set.

An Elegant Puzzle - Systems of Engineeri

The Elegant Puzzle

Systems of Engineering Management

A thoughtful approach to engineering management that leaders of all levels at companies of all sizes can apply. Helping leaders create more effective and rewarding organizations for engineers to thrive in.

Engineering Books for Soft Skills

Management

Will Larson >

The book is concerned with development of the individual as a professional, rather than as someone having a technical skill set.

Professional Engineering Practice - refl

Professional Engineering Practice

Reflections on the Role of the Professional Engineer

A great collection of short, concise and very readable essays about the role of the professional engineer.

Engineering Books for Engineer as a Person

Career

Harvey T. Dearden >

From the Author:

"The book is concerned with development of the individual as a professional, rather than as someone having a technical skill set."

On relevant chapters for an engineering life:

"1. Engineering Judgement 8. Codes of Conduct 12. Engineering, Fast and Slow 14. Staying Aligned"

Have an Engineering Book Recommendation?

Perfect! Just get in contact here to submit your engineering book recommendation.

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You're an Author with an Engineering book?

Include any key points to include in the "From the author" section of the listing.

Engineers Who Read

The most successful engineers read books. Take Bill Gates as an example, he is an avid book reader with many recommended books.

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Which engineering books are you adding to your personal library?

"Reading is still the main way that I both learn new things and test my understanding."

-Bill Gates

"I was raised by books. ... I was off making explosives and reading books and building rockets and doing things that could have gotten me killed..."

-Elon Musk

Which engineering books are you adding to your personal library?

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