Applied Minds
Guru Madhavan, Applied Minds: How Engineers Think (W. W. Norton, 2015)
Summary: A breezy introduction to how people who build stuff think about the problems they encounter. Springboard topics include optimization, efficiency, standardization, adaptation, prototypes, and more. No prior exposure needed to gain from this quick read.
Key Quote: "The core of the engineering mind-set is what I call modular systems thinking. It's not a singular talent, but a mélange of techniques and principles. Systems-level thinking is more than just being systematic; rather, it's about the understanding that in the ebb and flow of life, nothing is stationary and everything is linked. The relationships among the modules of a system give rise to a whole that cannot be understood by analyzing its constituent parts." - p. 21
Bottom Line: Read this book if you regret majoring in the humanities.
