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Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

2025 Summer Reading List, Brought to You by CCEE Faculty

May 5, 2025

Whether you’re heading to the beach, catching a quiet moment between projects, or simply looking to learn something new, summer is the perfect time to dive into a good book. This year, CCEE faculty have shared some of their favorite reads—books that have informed their thinking and sparked their curiosity. Expand your mind this summer with these faculty-approved reads spanning engineering history, design, economics, and even a little science fiction.

Engineering Legends and Historical Insights

  • The North Carolina Railroad, 1849–1871 by Allen W. Trelease – Recommended by Billy Williams
     A historical look at how bold infrastructure decisions transformed North Carolina’s economy—offering lessons still relevant to today’s transportation innovations.
  • Road to the Sea by Florence Dorsey – Recommended by Casey Dietrich
    Dive into the life of James Eads, a self-taught engineer who revolutionized navigation on the Mississippi River and built the first major steel bridge in the U.S. His story is a testament to curiosity, innovation, and perseverance.
  • The Lighthouse Stevensons by Bella Bathurst – Recommended by George Bonner
     Discover how Robert Louis Stevenson’s ancestors built the Scottish lighthouses that saved countless lives, mastering coastal engineering in some of the world’s harshest maritime environments.
  • Brunelleschi’s Dome by Ross King – Recommended by Meredith Martinez
    A must-read for civil engineers, this book unpacks the astonishing design and construction of Florence’s famous dome—built without scaffolding or architectural precedent.
  • A Civil Action by Jonathan Hart – Recommended by Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson
    This is a gripping true story of a high-stakes legal battle over environmental contamination and corporate accountability. Decades later, it remains a powerful reminder of how justice, public health, and environmental responsibility are still deeply intertwined.

Modern Perspectives and Unexpected Picks

  • Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold – Recommended by Jessica Kaminsky
    This sci-fi adventure features an engineer protagonist confronting ethical dilemmas in space. A fun, thought-provoking read that brings technical thinking into a thrilling new world.
  • The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. – Recommended by Meagan Kittle Autry
    Dr. Autry reads 30-50 books a year. The plot line of this book is the most original, creative one she’s read in a long time. A really compelling story about the tradeoffs of immortality that was hard to put down. A great choice for fiction lovers!
     
  • The 99% Invisible City by Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt – Recommended by Andy Grieshop
    Peek behind the curtain of urban design and explore the unnoticed features that shape our daily lives, from street signs to power grids.
  • The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York by Robert A. Caro – Recommended by Andy Grieshop
    Dr. Grieshop recently audio-booked this one and found it to be a) epic, b) very relevant, and c) not always that ‘easy’ on civil engineers, but has a really cool podcast version.
  • Career and Family by Claudia Goldin – Recommended by Ashly Cabas
    This accessible work from a Nobel Prize-winning economist explores gender, work, and progress—offering comfort and insight through data and storytelling.
  • The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein – Recommended by Francis L. de los Reyes III
    A provocative exploration of how crises are used to push economic and political agendas—recommended for those interested in global systems and resilience.

Engineering Reflections and Classics

  • The Existential Pleasures of Engineering by Samuel Florman
  • The Two Cultures by C.P. Snow
  • To Engineer is Human by Henry Petroski
  • Consider a Spherical Cow by John Harte
  • The Education of Henry Adams by Henry Adams
    – All recommended by Chris Frey
    These titles examine the cultural, ethical, and philosophical dimensions of engineering and science, perfect for readers reflecting on the profession’s broader impacts.