Asking questions: Engineering for people, places, and time [Book review]

This book is probably the first engineering book that I have ever read that has no equations. I have always told my wife that I will not read anything that does not have equations or figures/pictures. This book does have figures and pictures plus a whole lot of good ideas on how to improve engineering design by considering input from the users/customers. The real value of this book lies in several connections to the social context of the users of engineering projects. The book immediately focuses on the most important step in considering the social context of solutions. That step is asking the right questions. These questions typically involve the impact of the project on users from a wide range of economic income and opportunities. This includes the option of the rich subsidizing the poor and their willingness to improve the social standing of the many. And of course, education enters almost all aspects of this approach. This approach must incorporate local knowledge and local capabilities, values, and beliefs. The text emphasizes that engineering design must consider the conditions of people, places, and time.