I receipt the book very quikly and in excelent conditios of use, as a new book.

i love this book! it truly explains why buildings behave the way they do and why they are built the way they are. it takes complicated engineeriing and makes it simple, very simple. every principle has an easy to follow sketch and example. this book is a must for architects, engineers, builders or anyone who wants to go behind the scenes and understand the 'why' of buildings. many of the principles and examples only apply to large scale commercial projects like high rises and bridges, so it may not be pertinent for the home builder, but i'd still recommend it. i love to understand why i build houses a certain way. this book explains basic building principles.

A dear friend gave me this book for my ninth birthday back in 1990. Today, I am a graduate student in structural engineering, and I know that much of my fascination with the field began with Salvadori's riveting explanations of the basic principles of structural design. This book is incredible for any kid with any scientific inclination!

I've been rereading this lately. This morning I showed everybody in the restaurant where I was eating the book saying, "if this had been around when I was in middle school or junior high, I expect that I would be an architect or structural engineer now.

For a person who wonders why a bridge is shaped the way it is, or why buildings lean and don't fall, this is an ideal introduction. Useful for anyone interested in structures (e.g. model railroad truss work, furniture design, etc.) and would be very good for a student interested in civil or construction engineering as a future career.