---
product_id: 5631534
title: "What Engineers Know and How They Know It: Analytical Studies from Aeronautical History (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology)"
brand: "walter g. g. vincenti"
price: "R5124"
currency: ZAR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 11
url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/5631534-what-engineers-know-and-how-they-know-it-analytical-studies
store_origin: ZA
region: South Africa
---

# What Engineers Know and How They Know It: Analytical Studies from Aeronautical History (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology)

**Brand:** walter g. g. vincenti
**Price:** R5124
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** What Engineers Know and How They Know It: Analytical Studies from Aeronautical History (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology) by walter g. g. vincenti
- **How much does it cost?** R5124 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/5631534-what-engineers-know-and-how-they-know-it-analytical-studies)

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## Description

What Engineers Know and How They Know It: Analytical Studies from Aeronautical History (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology)

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Excellent Work on Foundation.
  

*by E***Z on Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2019*

This is an essential read to understand some key differences between applied science and engineering. It further is important to understand the historical context on how engineers learned to handle complexity in a pragmatic way. Lessons that seem to get lost in many sub-disciplines and lack of lessons of improper planing seem to have to be relearned again.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    interesting chapters from aeronautical history
  

*by P***C on Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2010*

As Prof. Vincenti points out in the preface, the people interested in the history of aviation may prefer to omit epistemological parts of the book. I must agree. The epistemological part (introduction of the book, introductions and conclusions of the chapters, 50 pages after the chapter 6) is too wordy to my taste. I can't say it isn't interesting (based on what I learned about differences between engineers and scientists I can say that I am engineer) but it is definitely not easy to read (with lot of redundancy and abstraction).The narrative part of the chapters 2-6 is other case. There are very interesting stories about:2. airfoil design and use (laminar flow, Davis's airfoil used in B-24 Liberator)3. flying quality specification4. development of control volume analysis (in Prandtl's aerodynamics)5. air-propeller test (by Durand and Lesley)6. development of flush rivetingThe notes in pages 259-318 contain also comprehensive bibliography to all stories.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    A classic with broad application
  

*by G***Y on Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2011*

Even though this book is about the nature of engineering, we read it in our strategy curriculum.  It has transfer value for studying the essence of design.  The author was 73 when he published this book after a life time of living and teaching the business.  He then developed a passion for the history of technology which is what he finished up teaching at Stanford.  The book unfolds in a continuous story telling style as Vincenti walks you though five case studies in engineering science from the pioneer era of aviation.  The book is replete with substantial "front porch" gems of the engineering business.  So much so that it warrants more than one reading to take it all in like Kuhn or Hawking.  This same statement was made by Dr. Michael Jackson author of "Structured Design" and "Problem Framing".  See [...]

## Frequently Bought Together

- What Engineers Know and How They Know It: Analytical Studies from Aeronautical History (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology)
- The Art of Doing Science and Engineering: Learning to Learn

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*Product available on Desertcart South Africa*
*Store origin: ZA*
*Last updated: 2026-02-14*