How Infrastructure Works: Inside the Systems That Shape Our World

TLDR: “Not what I was looking for. Less practical information, and more theory, philosophy, and politics.”

Book review by Deane Barker tags: infrastructure, engineering
An image of the cover of the book "How Infrastructure Works: Inside the Systems That Shape Our World"

This book was okay. It’s not what I expected.

It talks about infrastructure, but really from a systems and societal perspective. It talks about the ideas of sharing infrastructure, and how that infrastructure has played out in our society.

It also goes deep into the effects on women and minorities, and how choices about infrastructure location have affected different groups of people.

What it didn’t do is tell me – wait for it – how infrastructure works. I wanted to know how electricity gets to my house. Or exactly where my sewage goes. Or how a nuclear power plant works.

I didn’t get that. It’s not a nuts and bolts book. It’s more about the… philosophy of infrastructure, which wasn’t really what I wanted.

It’s well-written, and very interesting. I was just looking for something else.

Book Info

Author
Deb Chachra
Year
Pages
320
Acquired
  • I have read this book. According to my records, I completed it on .
  • A hardcover copy of this book is currently in my home library.
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