The Civilized Engineer

Rating:
Summary: Repetitive, Long-Winded Engineering Nolstagia
Review: Despite leading projects with complex dynamics between people, technology, business and strategic issues, engineers often get bad-press for being too scientific, logical and pragmatic. Civil engineer Samuel Forman's "The Civilized Engineer" is aimed at both those observing and commenting externally on engineering, and the practicing engineer- to reveal something of the art behind great engineering achievements, and to stimulate debate upon the author's (1987) hypothesis- that "in its moment of ascendance, engineering is faced with the trivialization of its purpose and the debasement of its practice."

The book meanders around a wide range of related subjects including: heritage from classical times, ethics, teamworking, rewards, public perceptions, electronic future and publishing, risk analysis and decision making, and the characteristics of the civilized engineer (i.e. concept, people, schooling, women, and change).

From Plato's time engineers have been labeled inferior (and artists superior), a tradition carried through the ancient European universities including Oxford and Cambridge in the UK, imported to US universities, and maintained to this day. This is despite the fact that from the fall of Rome onwards, societal/empire/superpower collapses have been caused by politics and lethargy rather than by the balanced use of technology to solve problems. Organization's supporting the professionalism of engineers include: the medieval guilds, the UK Royal Society (1660), the UK engineers institutes (1771 onwards), military engineer training (1817 onwards), and universities (RPI in US 1835). National differences are highlighted- the British individual enterprising hands-on apprenticeships, the theoretical French universities, the large-scale planned German approach, and the status-focus of US engineering societies. Around the beginning of this century when business schools did not exist, engineers like F.W.Taylor spread "Scientific Management" successfully managing US industry and business.

Today millions of engineers across many branches of engineering work in teams on complex projects and strive to be effective, creative, conscientious, and ethically responsible.

Many engineers are driven more by creativity, and the solving of organisational or technical problems, rather than by great wealth or fame (despite the Silicon Valley millionaires), leading to subjugation by the money-motivated (although dual technical-management career ladders can compensate somewhat).

Forman asserts that the media and government tend to simplify debate (about technical-engineering) reinforcing some elitist-perspectives of engineering, but reducing the awareness of issues and debate by the public and often-untrained media. Computers have become central in the media and trade publications, often without evidence of positive contribution to the problem at hand. Ocean engineering is portrayed as an exciting area of opportunity.

The account of the loss of Challenger in 1986 demonstrates media bias in reporting decisions by "engineers" overridden by "managers" with disastrous consequences (when in fact all parties were engineers, but reinforcing portrayal of engineers as lower-level staff).

Forman asserts that the hypothesized civilized engineer, supported by a liberal arts education, is required to take leadership roles in future society, as "The politicians, and even the statesmen, are merely scrambling to deal with the revolutions in weapons, agriculture and industry created by the scientists and engineers. The latter have transformed man's capacity to give life, to sustain and prolong life, and to take life; and the politicians no longer find that they can deal with all the new complexities and ambiguities..."(J.Reston, "Washington, The Dull but Hopeful World of the Future", New York Times Dec.13, 1964). The 'reading list' for 'educated people' covering history and literature, includes: Homer, Sophocles, Plato, Aristotle, Virgil, Dante, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Austen, Wordsworth, Dickens, Marx, Eliot, Twain, the Bible etc..

The debate of arts versus (applied) science has raged for centuries and that between industry, academia, and consulting for decades. Indeed, the March 2000 issue of Wired magazine, includes reports on a Internet startup Harvard University student protesting at his University's traditional Liberal arts focus, and $billionaires in India's Bangalore-IT phenomenon (rivaling/exceeding Silicon Valley quality at 1/20th cost) thanking the US Liberal Arts mindset, for their business opportunities. This reviewer having worked 20 years across sectors, believes universities to excel in rigor, innovation and creativity, industry in urgent application, and consulting in charismatic change. Note- that all factors are required for the most effective, creative, conscientious and ethical solution. Further, to maintain competitive advantage and wider engineering awareness, leading global engineering institutions (e.g. UK IEE, US IEEE) suggest engineers should undertake structured continuing professional development which involves reading & writing papers, attending trade shows & training courses, and completion of further degrees (perhaps at intervals of a decade, including liberal arts and generalist degrees like MBAs).

Strengths of "The Civilized Engineer" include: the passion of the debate, and wealth and breadth of supporting US information.

Weaknesses include: limit of vision as the author does not reflect a wider global community of engineers and sectors; sometimes flow would benefit from moving text to footnotes or endnotes; the greatly reduced readibility of the 2nd half of the book due to the lack of new material and over-repetition of the 'liberal arts mantra'; missing significant details including Schumacher's relevant 1973 book- "Small is Beautiful" introducing the concept of appropriate technology, sustainable development and economics; and the lack of mention of the UK Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (1754) supporting sustainable development and society.

Other more recent books in this domain include: D.P.Billington's "The Innovators: The Engineering Pioneers Who Made America Modern" (Wiley, 1996) presenting profiles of historical engineering pacesetters revolutionizing US commerce, industry and history; and E.S.Ferguson's "Engineering and the Mind's Eye" (MIT Press, 1994) exploring the intuition and non-verbal thinking side of engineers that is often ignored in favor of computation and equations.

Overall, "The Civilized Engineer" is a welcome change from reading narrow technical engineering, and (often) superficial business books. It's worth reading once to summarize and feel good about being an engineer- but not worth a re-read due to the ultimately limited and dated content.

Rating:
Summary: The Essential Florman
Review: Samual Florman is graceful and balanced writer, as well as a very proud and sensible practicing civil engineer. All of his writing is well worth reading, especially for professional humanists wisely or foolishly spooked by technology, which is not going away, but this one gets to the heart of ancient and impending problems. Florman notes a cultural disrespect, perhaps fading by now, for his profession and looks within, especially at the standard American university engineering curriculum, rather than simply, and simple-mindedly, assigning all blame to others. What a concept! Recommended for all ages and prejudices.

Rating:
Summary: passionate and introspective
Review: This is an excellent book for anyone who's ever wanted to take a look into the mind of an engineer. Many of the examples are outdated and the later capters degrade into seemingy-endless lobbying for increased integration of liberal arts into engineering education (a noble, but unrealistic goal). However, this book provides insight into the engineering profession by asking questions that all engineers should ask themselves (but many may not have). Questions such as: what makes and engineer an engineer? how did engineering develop from its early days as informal apprenticeships into a "civilized" profession? how does an engineer balance the demands of his/her employer against his/her own conscience? One may not always agree with the answers given, nonetheless, the questions provide insight into what makes at least one engineer tick. As an engineer, I could identify with the author and his quest for self understanding.

This book provides a refreshing alternative to the "nerdy" image with which engineers are often identified. It provides a chance to view the "anonymous profession" of engineering as a sum of its individual parts. Yes, as professionals engineers must be exact, but we must also be creative. Yes, engineers must be loyal to their employer and work from withing the system, but as individuals, we carry with us our individual identities, political ideals, and codes of honor. Yes, we must learn math and science (and dare I that many of us even enjoy doing so), but many of us also enjoy literature, music, art, and other "liberal" studies. This book proves that at least one engineer can WRITE a well-researched book that is also enjoyable to read. Indeed an engineer can be both technically competent and civilized.

Rating:
Summary: passionate and introspective
Review: This is an excellent book for anyone who's ever wanted to take a look into the mind of an engineer. Many of the examples are outdated and the later capters degrade into seemingy-endless lobbying for increased integration of liberal arts into engineering education (a noble, but unrealistic goal). However, this book provides insight into the engineering profession by asking questions that all engineers should ask themselves (but many may not have). Questions such as: what makes and engineer an engineer? how did engineering develop from its early days as informal apprenticeships into a "civilized" profession? how does an engineer balance the demands of his/her employer against his/her own conscience? One may not always agree with the answers given, nonetheless, the questions provide insight into what makes at least one engineer tick. As an engineer, I could identify with the author and his quest for self understanding.

This book provides a refreshing alternative to the "nerdy" image with which engineers are often identified. It provides a chance to view the "anonymous profession" of engineering as a sum of its individual parts. Yes, as professionals engineers must be exact, but we must also be creative. Yes, engineers must be loyal to their employer and work from withing the system, but as individuals, we carry with us our individual identities, political ideals, and codes of honor. Yes, we must learn math and science (and dare I that many of us even enjoy doing so), but many of us also enjoy literature, music, art, and other "liberal" studies. This book proves that at least one engineer can WRITE a well-researched book that is also enjoyable to read. Indeed an engineer can be both technically competent and civilized.