Basic Concrete Engineering for Builders

Rating:
Summary: Too much of too little
Review: I genuinely wanted to like this book, but I found the author attempted to cover too many topics in too little detail. Texts on general construction materials and methods contain greater depth and detail than this book, and yet are written for the same audience (builders and 2 yr. degreed designers). Especially thin is the discussion and illustration of reinforcement, and this to me is the most complicated and important aspect of concrete next to quality control. I found the chapters on concrete in my old construction technology text to be much more useful.

Rating:
Summary: Too much of too little
Review: I genuinely wanted to like this book, but I found the author attempted to cover too many topics in too little detail. Texts on general construction materials and methods contain greater depth and detail than this book, and yet are written for the same audience (builders and 2 yr. degreed designers). Especially thin is the discussion and illustration of reinforcement, and this to me is the most complicated and important aspect of concrete next to quality control. I found the chapters on concrete in my old construction technology text to be much more useful.

Rating:
Summary: Engineering Information on a Builder's Level.
Review: I thought that a book on concrete engineering would be complicated and way over my head. But I was delightfully surprised with Basic Concrete Engineering. The clear instructions, and simplified explanations along with excellent diagrams, charts and graphics helped even me comprehend the complexities of concrete engineering into a language that any builder could understand and actually apply on the next job. I especially enjoyed the design errors as we had been building that way for years.
The software was a bit over my head but the information in the book was useful and practical.