19 Best Engineering Books
We analyzed 5+ expert sources, curated book lists, and recommendations from successful people to find the 19 best engineering books according to the internet — not just one person's opinion. Each book on this list was mentioned by at least two independent sources, and the ranking is based on how frequently each title appears across all sources studied. This consensus-based approach ensures you get recommendations backed by multiple experts, not a single reviewer's bias.
Goal: Find the best Engineering books according to the internet (not just one person's opinion).
Method:
- Search for "best engineering books" and study the top 5+ pages.
- Add only the books mentioned 2+ times.
- Rank the results neatly here.
19 Best Engineering Books
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The Design of Everyday Things
Also recommended by:
Engineer to Win
The Existential Pleasures of Engineering
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
An Inquiry Into Values
Also recommended by:
Jordan Peterson, Paul Graham, Drew Houston, Josh Waitzkin, Bryan Johnson, Ev Williams, Austen Allred, Fred Wilson, Phil Jackson
Elon Musk
Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
Also recommended by:
Anthony Pompliano, Austen Allred, Mr. Money Mustache, Tim Urban, Casey Neistat, John Collison
The Mythical Man-Month
Essays on Software Engineering
Also recommended by:
Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, Marc Benioff, Alan Kay, Jeff Atwood
How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big
Kind of the Story of My Life
Also recommended by:
The Art of Doing Science and Engineering
Learning to Learn
Also recommended by:
The Goal
A Process of Ongoing Improvement
Also recommended by:
The Soul of A New Machine
Also recommended by:
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth
What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything
Also recommended by:
Skunk Works
A Personal Memoir of My Years of Lockheed
Also recommended by:
Structures
Or Why Things Don't Fall Down
Also recommended by:
Engineering and the Mind's Eye
Machinery's Handbook
Pocket Companion
The 4-Hour Chef
The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life
To Engineer is Human
The Role of Failure in Successful Design
Unwritten Laws of Engineering
Why Buildings Fall Down
How Structures Fail
Sources
- 1
30+ must-read engineering books you need to read today
interestingengineering.com
- 2
37 Best Books for Engineers (That Aren't Textbooks)
engineersbible.com
- 3
8 Books Every Engineering Student Should Read | Oxford Scholastica Academy
oxfordscholastica.com
- 4
Our Resources | NES Fircroft
nesfircroft.com
- 5
10 Books Every Engineering Student Should Read | by Brendan Coady | Venture for Canada Fellows | Medium
medium.com
Edited by
Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.
Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.
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