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Bridginess: More of the Civil Engineering Life

Abstract

  • If you've ever been asked to calculate the live load for a herd of elephants...

    If you've ever built a sand castle to study soil mechanics...

    If you've ever had to choose between your date and your favorite bridge...

    ...Brian Brenner has written the book for you. Bridginess: More of the Civil Engineering Life—sequel to his popular Don't Throw This Away! The Civil Engineering Life—finds Brenner turning his pen and his signature wit to the subjects of urban sprawl, airport infrastructure planning, and, of course, bridges. After reading this collection, you will know bridges from more angles than a through truss. You will think twice before placing a salad on the roof of your car. And you will know just what makes a truly great college response letter.

    These essays range from humorous to informative, autobiographical to historical. They encompass the full range of Brenner's talent as a writer, as well as an engineer. With his charming and fluid style, Brenner makes civil engineering funny, interesting, and at times, even glamorous.

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Front Matter
i–ix
    Chapter 1:
    Marina Bay in Summer
    1–3
      Chapter 2:
      My Name
      4–7
        Chapter 3:
        The MRS Degree
        8–12
          Chapter 4:
          Niche Knowledge
          13–17
            Chapter 5:
            Convention Crashers
            18–23
              Chapter 6:
              Back at the Olive Garden
              24–26
                Chapter 7:
                Airport Inspection
                27–31
                  Chapter 8:
                  Mass General, without the M
                  32–36
                    Chapter 9:
                    Horse Management and Suspension Bridge Design
                    37–40
                      Chapter 10:
                      Back to School
                      41–43
                        Chapter 11:
                        Aqua Teen Hunger Force Attacks I-93!
                        44–48
                          Chapter 12:
                          Highways to Nowhere
                          49–50
                            Chapter 13:
                            Everyone Wants One
                            51–55
                              Chapter 14:
                              The Canopy
                              56–58
                                Chapter 15:
                                Bridginess
                                59–67
                                  Chapter 16:
                                  The Gift
                                  68–71
                                    Chapter 17:
                                    When I Turned 16
                                    72–76
                                      Chapter 18:
                                      Bridges at the Beach
                                      77–81
                                        Chapter 19:
                                        Meeting at the Summit
                                        82–85
                                          Chapter 20:
                                          Engineering with Elephants
                                          86–89
                                            Chapter 21:
                                            The Show
                                            90–94
                                              Chapter 22:
                                              World’s Ugliest Bike Trail
                                              95–98
                                                Chapter 23:
                                                Buffalo on 495
                                                99–102
                                                  Chapter 24:
                                                  The Night Shift
                                                  103–106
                                                    Chapter 25:
                                                    Wildlife Returns to Suburbia
                                                    107–109
                                                      Chapter 26:
                                                      Back to the Transit Future
                                                      110–112
                                                        Chapter 27:
                                                        What the Future Should Look Like
                                                        113–115
                                                          Chapter 28:
                                                          Gephyrophobia
                                                          116–121
                                                            Chapter 29:
                                                            Go Jump Off a Bridge
                                                            122–128
                                                              Chapter 30:
                                                              The Moral Infrastructure Equivalent of War
                                                              129–131
                                                                Chapter 31:
                                                                Bridges I Have Known
                                                                132–135
                                                                  Chapter 32:
                                                                  Managing to Avoid Congestion
                                                                  136–138
                                                                    Chapter 33:
                                                                    Providence
                                                                    139–142
                                                                      Chapter 34:
                                                                      Ward’s Berry Farm
                                                                      143–145
                                                                        Chapter 35:
                                                                        Glacial Potholes
                                                                        146–150
                                                                          Chapter 36:
                                                                          See the Squirrels, Find the Nuts
                                                                          151–156
                                                                            Chapter 37:
                                                                            The Wall
                                                                            164–166
                                                                              Chapter 38:
                                                                              What Happened to John T. Mongan?
                                                                              167–175
                                                                                Chapter 39:
                                                                                Leaving Things on Top of the Car
                                                                                176–180
                                                                                  Chapter 40:
                                                                                  Don’t Rezone for Brickstone
                                                                                  181–186
                                                                                    Chapter 41:
                                                                                    Riding the Rails
                                                                                    187–190
                                                                                      Chapter 42:
                                                                                      The Dumbest Generation
                                                                                      191–194
                                                                                        Chapter 43:
                                                                                        Where Old Bridges go when it's time
                                                                                        195–200
                                                                                          Chapter 44:
                                                                                          Covered Bridge
                                                                                          201–205
                                                                                            Chapter 45:
                                                                                            Infrastructure at the End
                                                                                            206–208
                                                                                              Chapter 46:
                                                                                              Marina Bay in Winter
                                                                                              209–212
                                                                                                Chapter 47:
                                                                                                Bridge Circuits
                                                                                                213–217
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                                                                                                  Back Matter
                                                                                                  218–229