Books on design, architecture and engineering

Where to start

1. A Pattern LanguageChristopher Alexander

   

   A Pattern Language

   Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa and Murray Silverstein

   Recommended independently by Patrick Collison, Stewart Brand and Brian Eno.

2. How Buildings LearnStewart Brand

   

   How Buildings Learn

   Stewart Brand

   Rated 9/10 by Derek Sivers and picked by Kevin Kelly.

3. Engineering in Plain SightGrady Hillhouse

   

   Engineering in Plain Sight

   Grady Hillhouse

   Bill Gates's 2024 pick for anyone curious about infrastructure.

Every design, cities & engineering book in the directory

• 4recommenders
  The AlchemistPaulo Coelho

  
  The Alchemist Paulo Coelho · 2010 +14 recommendersBrené Brown, Gabby Reece, James Clear, Daniel Ek
• 3recommenders
  A Pattern LanguageChristopher Alexander

  
  A Pattern Language Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa and Murray Silverstein · 1977 3 recommendersPatrick Collison, Stewart Brand, Brian Eno
• 2recommenders
  How Buildings LearnStewart Brand

  
  How Buildings Learn Stewart Brand · 1994 DS2 recommendersDerek Sivers, Kevin Kelly
• 2recommenders
  McTeagueFrank Norris

  
  McTeague Frank Norris · 1899 2 recommendersArmistead Maupin, David Bowie
• 2recommenders
  The Design of Everyday ThingsDon Norman
  The Design of Everyday Things Don Norman · 1988 TF2 recommendersJeff Atwood, Tiago Forte
• About FaceAlan Cooper

  
  About Face Alan Cooper · 1995 Picked by Jeff Atwood
• Beautiful EvidenceEdward R. Tufte

  
  Beautiful Evidence Edward R. Tufte · 2006 Picked by Jeff Atwood
• BookhunterJason Shiga

  
  Bookhunter Jason Shiga · 2007 Picked by Aaron Swartz
• Building StoriesChris Ware

  
  Building Stories Chris Ware · 2012 Picked by Debbie Millman
• Caveman ChemistryKevin M. Dunn

  
  Caveman Chemistry Kevin M. Dunn · 2003 Picked by Kevin Kelly
• Designing the ObviousRobert Hoekman Jr.

  
  Designing the Obvious Robert Hoekman Jr. · 2006 Picked by Melanie Perkins
• Designing Web UsabilityJakob Nielsen

  
  Designing Web Usability Jakob Nielsen · 1999 Picked by Jeff Atwood
• Don QuixoteMiguel Cervantes
  Don Quixote Miguel Cervantes · 2020 Picked by Mark Manson
• Don't Make Me ThinkSteve Krug

  
  Don't Make Me Think Steve Krug · 2000 Picked by Jeff Atwood
• Engineering in Plain SightGrady Hillhouse

  
  Engineering in Plain Sight Grady Hillhouse · 2022 Picked by Bill Gates
• Envisioning InformationEdward R. Tufte

  
  Envisioning Information Edward R. Tufte · 1990 Picked by Jeff Atwood
• MusashiEiji Yoshikawa

  
  Musashi Eiji Yoshikawa and Charles Terry · 1936 Picked by Jimmy Chin
• Seeing Like a StateJames C. Scott

  
  Seeing Like a State James C. Scott · 1998 Picked by Brian Eno
• SystemanticsJohn Gall

  
  Systemantics John Gall · 1977 Picked by Kevin Kelly
• The American Practical NavigatorNathaniel Bowditch

  
  The American Practical Navigator Nathaniel Bowditch · 1802 Picked by Neal Stephenson
• The Confessions of Max TivoliAndrew Sean Greer

  
  The Confessions of Max Tivoli Andrew Sean Greer · 2003 Picked by Armistead Maupin
• The Golden GateVikram Seth

  
  The Golden Gate Vikram Seth · 1986 Picked by Armistead Maupin
• The Joy Luck ClubAmy Tan

  
  The Joy Luck Club Amy Tan · 1989 Picked by Armistead Maupin
• The Maltese FalconDashiell Hammett

  
  The Maltese Falcon Dashiell Hammett · 1929 Picked by Armistead Maupin
• The Medieval MachineJean Gimpel

  
  The Medieval Machine Jean Gimpel · 1975 Picked by Daniel Suarez
• The Visual Display of Quantitative InformationEdward R. Tufte

  
  The Visual Display of Quantitative Information Edward R. Tufte · 1983 Picked by Jeff Atwood
• Triumph of the CityEdward L. Glaeser

  
  Triumph of the City Edward L. Glaeser · 2011 Picked by Stewart Brand
• Visual ExplanationsEdward R. Tufte

  
  Visual Explanations Edward R. Tufte · 1997 Picked by Jeff Atwood