Definitive Textbooks (Engineering)
January 6, 2011 12:30 PM Subscribe
Can other engineers out there recommend definitive textbooks from their disciplines and specific fields?
I love textbooks. I have all my books from undergrad and grad school and I'm constantly building my library of engineering texts. Obviously I only collect the best, so I'd like to know which books are THE definitive texts for any given engineering discipline and area of specialty. For instance, I'm a Chemical Engineer and I specialize in transport processes, so I know that Transport Phenomena by Bird, Stewart and Lightfoot is the standard by which all books in the field are judged.
More specifically, I'm not interested in undergrad introductory books. I'm looking for the graduate level, high intensity, full density stuff.
Help me build my library!
I love textbooks. I have all my books from undergrad and grad school and I'm constantly building my library of engineering texts. Obviously I only collect the best, so I'd like to know which books are THE definitive texts for any given engineering discipline and area of specialty. For instance, I'm a Chemical Engineer and I specialize in transport processes, so I know that Transport Phenomena by Bird, Stewart and Lightfoot is the standard by which all books in the field are judged.
More specifically, I'm not interested in undergrad introductory books. I'm looking for the graduate level, high intensity, full density stuff.
Help me build my library!
Molecular Biology of the Cell by Alberts et al. is great.
The Genes [Roman Numeral] series of books by Lewin (currently Genes IX) is widely used and covers similar subject matter, but when I read it I found it poorly written.
posted by exogenous at 12:54 PM on January 6, 2011
The Genes [Roman Numeral] series of books by Lewin (currently Genes IX) is widely used and covers similar subject matter, but when I read it I found it poorly written.
posted by exogenous at 12:54 PM on January 6, 2011
You might enjoy a previous thread: "What single book is the best introduction to your field or specialization within your field for laypeople?"
posted by rmd1023 at 1:02 PM on January 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by rmd1023 at 1:02 PM on January 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
In a CS/SwEng, Tanenbaum's MINIX book is fairly renowned. I wish all CS textbooks were like it:
* 35 percent concepts, diagrams, and explanation,
* 10 percent problems,
* 5 percent annotated bibliographies,
* 50 percent working software source code
Definitely grad level stuff; we used it in my graduate level OS implementation course.
posted by pwnguin at 1:05 PM on January 6, 2011
* 35 percent concepts, diagrams, and explanation,
* 10 percent problems,
* 5 percent annotated bibliographies,
* 50 percent working software source code
Definitely grad level stuff; we used it in my graduate level OS implementation course.
posted by pwnguin at 1:05 PM on January 6, 2011
Oh, right. Forgot my actual suggestion.
For networking, I'm not sure what there is that's definitive besides the actual RFC documents that define and specify things. The rest of the canon (Stevens and Comer, usually) are also used as introductory texts, so I don't know if they qualify.
I'm hoping this thread turns into that thread's more advanced big sibling.
posted by rmd1023 at 1:08 PM on January 6, 2011
For networking, I'm not sure what there is that's definitive besides the actual RFC documents that define and specify things. The rest of the canon (Stevens and Comer, usually) are also used as introductory texts, so I don't know if they qualify.
I'm hoping this thread turns into that thread's more advanced big sibling.
posted by rmd1023 at 1:08 PM on January 6, 2011
My ChE grad course in catalysis was solely based on Heterogeneous Catalysis in Industrial Practice by Charles N. Satterfield, 1991.
posted by lizbunny at 1:16 PM on January 6, 2011
posted by lizbunny at 1:16 PM on January 6, 2011
Advanced Soil Mechanics by Braja Das
posted by electroboy at 1:20 PM on January 6, 2011
posted by electroboy at 1:20 PM on January 6, 2011
Fundamentals of Aerodynamics, by Anderson. Great book, maybe a little "undergrad" for your tastes but provides an excellent mathematical walkthrough of aero.
Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion, Hill and Peterson. Probably my favorite textbook to date. Plus, you know it's got cred because of its professional red leather covers.
posted by backseatpilot at 1:25 PM on January 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion, Hill and Peterson. Probably my favorite textbook to date. Plus, you know it's got cred because of its professional red leather covers.
posted by backseatpilot at 1:25 PM on January 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Jackson, Electrodynamics.
Chapman, Glow Discharge Processes.
H. C. van de Hulst, Light Scattering by Small Particles.
Redhead et al, The Physical Basis of Ultrahigh Vacuum.
posted by jet_silver at 1:34 PM on January 6, 2011
Chapman, Glow Discharge Processes.
H. C. van de Hulst, Light Scattering by Small Particles.
Redhead et al, The Physical Basis of Ultrahigh Vacuum.
posted by jet_silver at 1:34 PM on January 6, 2011
The Art of Electronics, Horowitz and Hill
Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages, and Computation, Hopcroft, et al - I had this book in a 300 level CS course. While I was home over break, my older brother grabbed it saying, "what are you doing with my book?" since he apparently was using the same text in a grad school class. It's dense, but from working on this topic I came to a kind of Zen enlightenment about there being little or no difference between mathematics, hardware, and software.
posted by plinth at 1:50 PM on January 6, 2011
Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages, and Computation, Hopcroft, et al - I had this book in a 300 level CS course. While I was home over break, my older brother grabbed it saying, "what are you doing with my book?" since he apparently was using the same text in a grad school class. It's dense, but from working on this topic I came to a kind of Zen enlightenment about there being little or no difference between mathematics, hardware, and software.
posted by plinth at 1:50 PM on January 6, 2011
Semiconductor Device Fundamentals by Robert F. Pierret is a really good book.
posted by carmel at 1:54 PM on January 6, 2011
posted by carmel at 1:54 PM on January 6, 2011
For computer science, there are the "four-letter" books: PLAI, EOPL, SICP, LiSP and arguably CTM (though that last one is more of a three-letter book)
posted by Monday, stony Monday at 3:11 PM on January 6, 2011
posted by Monday, stony Monday at 3:11 PM on January 6, 2011
For electrical engineering (Digital signal processing and communications)
Discrete-time Signal Processing
Digital Image Processing
Adaptive Filter Theory
Digital Communications
posted by ssri at 3:49 PM on January 6, 2011
Discrete-time Signal Processing
Digital Image Processing
Adaptive Filter Theory
Digital Communications
posted by ssri at 3:49 PM on January 6, 2011
The Dragon Book still remains one of the classics of software engineering. Plus, it's called "The Dragon Book." Introduction to Algorithms remains one of my favorites and it's a beautiful book, but I don't know if it qualifies as a definitive. For networking, it either has to be Comer or Stevens. Both are well loved and respected.
posted by chairface at 3:59 PM on January 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by chairface at 3:59 PM on January 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seconding Hill and Peterson for aerospace propulsion.
Just about every space systems person I've met has SMAD on their desk for general reference - though there are probably better sources for in-depth coverage of each individual topic in the book, SMAD brings everything together and covers it at about the level you need for day-to-day work. (It does tend to assume a certain level of background knowledge on your part, so I wouldn't really consider it an introductory undergrad level book - like I said, it's the one you keep on your desk for quick refreshers after you've learned the stuff the first time around.)
posted by sigmagalator at 4:05 PM on January 6, 2011
Just about every space systems person I've met has SMAD on their desk for general reference - though there are probably better sources for in-depth coverage of each individual topic in the book, SMAD brings everything together and covers it at about the level you need for day-to-day work. (It does tend to assume a certain level of background knowledge on your part, so I wouldn't really consider it an introductory undergrad level book - like I said, it's the one you keep on your desk for quick refreshers after you've learned the stuff the first time around.)
posted by sigmagalator at 4:05 PM on January 6, 2011
Optical Engineering:
Optics, by Hecht & Zajac
The IR Handbook, by Wolfe & Zissis (This edition has been superceded by several, more focused volumes, which are much harder to use for general reference. This is the edition to own.) (not a textbook, but an essential reference book)
General Engineering:
CRC Standard Mathematical Tables and Formulae (not a textbook, but an essential reference book)
posted by IAmBroom at 4:26 PM on January 6, 2011
Optics, by Hecht & Zajac
The IR Handbook, by Wolfe & Zissis (This edition has been superceded by several, more focused volumes, which are much harder to use for general reference. This is the edition to own.) (not a textbook, but an essential reference book)
General Engineering:
CRC Standard Mathematical Tables and Formulae (not a textbook, but an essential reference book)
posted by IAmBroom at 4:26 PM on January 6, 2011
Roarks guide to stress and strain for Structural Engineering (not really a text book but a standard reference for those doing structural calculations)
Civil Engineering Reference Manual, Lundeburg (a standard reference for those taking the Professional Engineering Exam)
posted by bartonlong at 4:38 PM on January 6, 2011
Civil Engineering Reference Manual, Lundeburg (a standard reference for those taking the Professional Engineering Exam)
posted by bartonlong at 4:38 PM on January 6, 2011
Civil Engineering:
Theoretical Soil Mechanics, by Karl Terzaghi.
posted by JJ86 at 5:54 PM on January 6, 2011
Theoretical Soil Mechanics, by Karl Terzaghi.
posted by JJ86 at 5:54 PM on January 6, 2011
Jurafsky and Martin or Manning and Schütze for natural language processing, and the rather formidable Bishop for machine learning more generally.
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:02 PM on January 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:02 PM on January 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
As a fellow Chemical Engineer I'd have to agree about Transport Phenomena is a great book. I think that Deen's "Analysis of Transport Phenomena" is better. I'm sure you probably have it though. Both are worthy of your library.
posted by gravity at 9:15 PM on January 6, 2011
posted by gravity at 9:15 PM on January 6, 2011
I did a BEng in electrical engineering. Two books come to mind:
posted by asymptotic at 5:48 AM on January 7, 2011
- Microelectronic Circuits by Sedra and Smith: the seminal text for microelectronics. I'm not sure if this is true but at my first class my professor told me "Do you know how many people have used this book, over the years? Let me tell you the three best selling books from the Oxford University Press, of all time: 1) The King James edition of the Bible, 2) the Oxford English Dictionary...and 3) Microelectronic Circuits."After that my lab partner, whenever we were working together, loved saying "As the Good Book tells us, chapter 12, verse 5, 'Lo! The signal output shall be linear between these two voltages!'" But I'm warning you man - I understand the compulsion to collect seminal texts but you need a vast set of background knowledge to grok this book.
- Security Engineering by Anderson. I didn't use this for studying but I read the first edition at university. Truly, this is compulsory everyone who's involved with security and computerised systems.
posted by asymptotic at 5:48 AM on January 7, 2011
Ah, I didn't catch your caveat about grad-level-only textbooks. As far as I remember I used the book for two courses, and never touched the last few chapters, so mostly undergrad material. And as for security engineering, I have no idea.
posted by asymptotic at 5:55 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by asymptotic at 5:55 AM on January 7, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jeffamaphone at 12:43 PM on January 6, 2011