In this practical and highly topical book, the author provides thoroughly researched accounts of well-known disasters and failures worldwide. Historical events such as the Hindenburg Disaster and Chernobyl are covered, as well as more recent occurrences, such as the World Trade Center and Columbia Space Shuttle disasters. The author provides valuable interpretive sections, revealing the lessons to be learned in each case.

When planes crash, bridges collapse, and automobile gas tanks explode, we are quick to blame poor design. But Petroski, known for his masterly explanations of engineering successes and failures, says we must look beyond design to the interdependency of people and machines within complex socioeconomic systems undreamt of by designers.

In 1981 the sudden collapse of two skywalks in Kansas City's Hyatt hotel killed 114 people and injured another 200. There never was a public trial, nor a full airing of everything that went wrong. Richard A. Serrano shared a Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the disaster at the time; now he returns to the tragedy to learn all that went wrong, how it could have been avoided, and what lasting effects persist today for engineering and the legal system, but most importantly those who suffered.