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Engineering

Why Early Decisions Have the Greatest Impact and Why Growing too Much is a Bad Thing

I never went to Engineering school. My undergrad is Computer Science. Despite that I’ve always wanted to learn more about Engineering. John Kuprenas and Matthew Frederick have put together a …

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The Three Essential Properties of the Engineering Mind-Set

Engineers use a unique mode of thinking based on seeing everything as a system. They see structures that aren’t apparent to the layperson, they know how to design under constraints, and they …

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Laws of Character and Personality

The Unwritten Laws of Engineering is a book for those engineers who have more obstacles of a personal nature in organizations than technical. First published as a series of three articles in …

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Margin of Safety: An Introduction to the Mental Model

Previously on Farnam Street, we covered the idea of Redundancy — a central concept in both the world of engineering and in practical life. Today we’re going to explore a related concept: Margin of …

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Eric Drexler on taking action in the face of limited knowledge

Science pursues answers to questions, but not always the questions that engineering must ask. The founding father of nanotechnology, Eric Drexler, who aptly described the difference between science …

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The Difference Between Science And Engineering

Eric Drexler is often described as “the founding father of nanotechnology.” His recent book, Radical Abundance: How a Revolution in Nanotechnology Will Change Civilization, includes a …

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