Collapse

Rating:
Summary: Absorbing, but short on technical insight
Review: An absorbing book with riveting descriptions of the events surrounding several building and construction disasters.

It is not a satisfying read if you want a technical understanding of each of the failures. The explanations are shallow, often little more than collections of expert opinions. The diagrams don't help much either---there are only a few in the whole book, and they're over-simplified to the point of being almost useless.

The lack of technical detail has the advantage of highlighting the role of coverups, selective deafness, mismanagement and broken chains of responsibility in many of the disasters.

Rating:
Summary: Absorbing, but short on technical insight
Review: An absorbing book with riveting descriptions of the events surrounding several building and construction disasters.

It is not a satisfying read if you want a technical understanding of each of the failures. The explanations are shallow, often little more than collections of expert opinions. The diagrams don't help much either---there are only a few in the whole book, and they're over-simplified to the point of being almost useless.

The lack of technical detail has the advantage of highlighting the role of coverups, selective deafness, mismanagement and broken chains of responsibility in many of the disasters.

Rating:
Summary: Eleven of the worst building failures in the last 50 years
Review: Human error leads to structural engineering failures, and Phillip Wearne's Collapse provides an intriguing focus based on information gathered for the Learning Channel show on the topic. Eleven of the worst building failures in the last 50 years are examined in a title which is engrossing.

Rating:
Summary: Clever Use of Expository Documentary
Review: Use of direct, seldom redundant, and intriguing material moves the text from point to point. The rare but occasional anecdotes liven the stories, but the larger picture, the carelessness of designers, the expenditure of millions on untested engineering novelties, and weaknesses in governmental supervision is impressive. I find many uses for this volume, not the least is by students whose first attempts at a bridge building or future cities competition often overlook the essential: be redundant in your design and construction. For the mass of us non-engineers and aspiring builders of the future, the book is pointed and readable.