Read any good books lately? 10

[bradpa77]

I like to read self-help type books that are related to my career. I'm trying to find a good book that will help motivate me at work. I'm happy at my job but I just feel like I need a good 'pick-me up' because I've gotten kind of lazy and frustrated lately. Any of the career books I've found are about changing careers or finding a good job but that's not really what I'm looking for.

Can anyone recommend a good book that will help me re-ignite my enthusiasm about my job?

 

[IceNine]

Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut

 

[btrueblood]

I just remembered the significance of IceNine after reading your post re Vonnegut

 

[jimaitken]

I am reading "The Great Bridge" by David McCullough. It is the story of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.
I have developed a greater appreciation for the tools and technology that we take for granted as engineers. The story has also showed me that the nature of engineers, contractors and politicians have not changed in over 100 years.(and probably never will)

 

[rmw]

I recommend "Blind man's Bluff". One of the authors names is Sontag, but I can't remember the other one. It is about the US Navy's submarine espionage during the cold war, but some of the technological stuff they did is utterly amazing.

rmw

 

[electricpete]

Of all the books mentioned above, I have read Carnegie's and I have read Covey's.

I highly recommend Covey's "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People". It really motivated me when I first read it. I just wished I would have paid more attention to "sharpening the saw".

=====================================
Eng-tips forums: The best place on the web for engineering discussions.

 

[LMatthew]

In The Bible ...

the book of Proverbs, ch 3 verse 5 and 6 says "Trust in The LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

This is not just as simple as dropping everything you are doing, looking up to the sky, asking God to tell you what to do next, and then pull up a chair and wait for an audible answer. That is not reasonable.

I cannot begin to consider the thought of being able to explain a fraction of what there is to know about God and The Bible within five minutes. It takes effort and dedication.

It takes a willing heart to start right where you are, (God accepts EVERYone) right where you are, in your current occupation, in your current life situation, to understand that we are nothing without God and we must depend fully on Him alone. It takes time and a willing heart to seek God's will for your life and be obedient to Him. All the answers you will ever need can be found in The Bible. (I speak to any who care to be reasonable)

HVACctrl, you're on the right track. "God's plan for you." To "Trust in The LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" is a hard thought and very unpopular in this individualistic society. But, who should you trust? Man who typically wants to serve their own aggenda or The God of this universe who is the only one who can offer you everlasting life?

"Trust in The LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

 

[SomptingGuy]

Hmm, and I thought Eng-tips was against advertising?

 

[GregLocock]

I prefer the Flying Spaghetti Monster myself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gospel_of_the_Flying_Spaghetti_Monster

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[monkeydog]

StompingGuy,
This whole thread is an advertisment.
The OP asked for a recommendation as to what "book might help re-ignite his enthusiasm about my job".
Are you suggesting "red flagging" the OP?

 

[HVACctrl]

I'm glad LMatthew chimed in. Its a good book- considered The Good Book by some, yet often overlooked. Mentioning it and/or trying to influence others to read it COULD come across as pushy or whatever term might be chosen, but I don't think that was the intent. It was a good response to the OP and seems right on topic and on target to me.

Ed

http://www.engineerboards.com

 

[Deutero]

I agree with HVACctrl,

All I see is truth in LMatthew's reply. He gave an appropriate recommendation to the original request. In addition, he elaborated just enough to offer concurrence and further insight upon HVACctrl's second reply.

I would'nt change a thing of what LMatthew wrote.

 

[KENAT]

I would have thought the bible would count more as a help others book than a self help book.

Do unto others.....

I wonder what the teaching of Antoinne Lefay (not sure I spelt that right) would go down? I suspect from what little I know they'd emphasize self help!

Oh great Flying Spaghetti Monster..

On topic don't know about specifice books, used to work in Aerospace/Defense and anything about military A/C or military technology generally did the trick. You could always try watching the History Channel or Discovery, Engineering Disasters anyone

 

[Snoball]

"Flight" by Chris Kraft.
"Failure is not an option" Gene Kranz

 

[Allen]

some of my favorites :
The Alchemist
Veronika Decides to Die
By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
---All by Paulo Coelho

and I always review my notes on quotations.

 

[Beggar]

The two that I'm presently consuming are:

1) Edly's Music Theory for Practical People

It's a great resource for the musically illiterate like me. I'm currently studying guitar and I was just having a tough time with glossing over the "whys" so I decided to learn a bit more about theory.

2) Bioprocess Engineering: Systems, Facilities, Equipment

I've been trying to break into the biotech field for awhile. I can't afford to go to school so I'm trying to do some self-study and see if I can break in.

--------------------
How much do YOU owe?

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

--------------------

 

[Beggar]

I just finished two novels by Nelson DeMille whose books I consistently enjoy.

Lion's Game - One of the better opening sequences I've read

Up Country - I've always been interested in Viet Nam and this provided an interesting viewpoint.

I'm also, on and off, reading Six Days of War which I also find riveting. It's also humbling because of the number of words that I don't know. I finally had to start keeping a list to look up.

--------------------
How much do YOU owe?

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

--------------------

 

[SomptingGuy]

I'm nearing the end of my current book: "Critical Mass" by Philip Ball (a good read I thought - I've always liked simulations of crowd behaviour).

Next may be a re-read of "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" (been having QA issues at work). Or a re-re-read of my all-time favourite: "Money" by Martin Amis.

 

[GregLocock]

Might take you a couple of mumfs to get around to that. Great book.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[Comcokid]

I'm re-reading "Getting Sued and Other Tales of the Engineering Life" by Meehan, MIT press.

I read this years ago and just pulled it back out of my bookshelf. It deals with the experiences of a Civil Engineer, but some the passages dealing with engineering and the pursuit of the ideal solution relate to all engineering disciplines.

 

[qassure]

You may read the 'Art of War' by Sun Tzu 'Tactics' by Edward de Bono.