Beyond Engineering: How Society Shapes Technology (Sloan Technology)
Language: English
Published by Oxford University Press, 1997
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Galisteo Consulting Group Books, Albuquerque, NM, U.S.A.Galisteo Consulting Group Books
AbeBooks seller since January 9, 2026
Condition: Used - Very good
£ 29.59
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Used - very good. Ships from the USA. We have long recognized technology as a driving force behind much historical and cultural change. The invention of the printing press initiated the Reformation. The development of the compass ushered in the Age of Exploration and the discovery of the New World. The cotton gin created the conditions that led to the Civil War. Now, in Beyond Engineering, science writer Robert Pool turns the question around to examine how society shapes technology. Drawing on such disparate fields as history, economics, risk analysis, management science, sociology, and psychology, Pool illuminates the complex, often fascinating interplay between machines and society, in a book that will revolutionize how we think about technology. We tend to think that reason guides technological development, that engineering expertise alone determines the final form an invention takes. But if you look closely enough at the history of any invention, says Pool, you will find that factors unrelated to engineering seem to have an almost equal impact. In his wide-ranging volume, he traces developments in nuclear energy, automobiles, light bulbs, commercial electricity, and personal computers, to reveal that the ultimate shape of a technology often has as much to do with outside and unforeseen forces. For instance, Pool explores the reasons why steam-powered cars lost out to internal combustion engines. He shows that the Stanley Steamer was in many ways superior to the Model T--it set a land speed record in 1906 of more than 127 miles per hour, it had no transmission (and no transmission headaches), and it was simpler (one Stanley engine had only twenty-two moving parts) and quieter than a gas engine--but the steamers were killed off by factors that had little or nothing to do with their engineering merits, including the Stanley twins' lack of business acumen and an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease. Pool illuminates other aspects of technology as well. He traces how seemingly minor decisions made early along the path of development can have profound consequences further down the road, and perhaps most important, he argues that with the increasing complexity of our technological advances--from nuclear reactors to genetic engineering--the number of things that can go wrong multiplies, making it increasingly difficult to engineer risk out of the equation. Citing such catastrophes as Bhopal, Three Mile Island, the Exxon Valdez, the Challenger, and Chernobyl, he argues that is it time to rethink our approach to technology. The days are gone when machines were solely a product of larger-than-life inventors and hard-working engineers. Increasingly, technology will be a joint effort, with its design shaped not only by engineers and executives but also psychologists, political scientists, management theorists, risk specialists, regulators and courts, and the general public. Whether discussing bovine growth hormone, molten-salt reactors, or baboon-to-human transplants, Beyond Engineering is an engaging look at modern technology and an illuminating account of how technology and the modern world shape each other.…
Seller Inventory # B666_48_1
- Title
- Beyond Engineering: How Society Shapes Technology (Sloan Technology)
- Author
- Robert Pool
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Publication year
- 1997
- Condition
- Very Good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0195107721
- ISBN 13
- 9780195107722
- Item weight
- 30 ounces
- Seller catalogs
- Galisteo Consulting Group Books
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Galisteo Consulting Group Books
Albuquerque, NM, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since January 9, 2026
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Welcome to Galisteo Consulting Group Books. We specialize in a curated selection of significant scholarly and rare works, with particular depth in International Relations, Political Science, Global Security, and the History of Science. Our collection is built for the discerning academic and the dedicated collector who seeks out-of-print or hard-to-find editions that shaped their respective fields. Our Specializations include: Defense & Geopolitics: Extensive holdings in international security, strategic studies (including CCRP publications), and political economy. Social Sciences: A deep catalog of foundational works in Anthropology and Social Theory. Scientific History: Landmark texts in physics, mathematics, and technological history. Slavic & Russian Studies: Rare Soviet-era Russian language literature and historical texts. (Coming soon.) Musicology: Scholarly works on music theory, history, and rare scores. (Coming soon.) Our Standards: Every book in our inventory is individually inspected and described. We understand that for collectors, condition is paramount. We provide detailed condition notes and are happy to provide additional bibliographic details or photographs upon request. Shipping & Handling: Books are professionally packed to ensure they arrive in the condition described. We utilize sturdy, custom-fitted packaging and moisture-protective layering for all shipments to ensure they withstand the rigors of transit. Orders are shipped the same or next business day after order placement. 80% of U.S. orders are delivered within 6 calendar days of shipment. Thank you for supporting an independent bookseller dedicated to the preservation of academic and cultural history.…
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A specialized selection of scholarly and academic non-fiction, with a primary focus on International Relations, Political Science, and the History of Science. Our inventory also includes rare and hard-to-find Soviet-era Russian litSeller's business information
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