Built by Roma Agrawal Summary

Built by Roma Agrawal explores the hidden engineering marvels behind iconic structures, blending science, history, and personal stories. It delves into materials like steel and concrete, structural principles like triangles for stability, and historical failures like the Quebec Bridge collapse. Agrawal highlights pioneers like Emily Roebling (Brooklyn Bridge) and modern feats like Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, while addressing societal impacts of engineering.

This book is ideal for curious readers interested in engineering, architecture, or history, as well as STEM advocates. Agrawal’s accessible writing appeals to professionals seeking insights into skyscraper design and students exploring careers in engineering. It also resonates with those passionate about diversity in STEM, given her advocacy for women and underrepresented groups.

Yes—Agrawal’s engaging storytelling and hands-on experience (e.g., designing the Shard) make complex concepts like force distribution and earthquake resistance relatable. The book won the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize and balances technical details with human narratives, though some may find chapters on sewage systems less riveting.

Agrawal analyzes clay, metal, and rock, explaining their roles in structures from ancient aqueducts to modern skyscrapers. She details steel’s rise post-Bessemer process and concrete’s versatility, while critiquing material limitations, such as the 1907 Quebec Bridge collapse caused by miscalculating steel weight.

The book highlights innovations like Taipei 101’s 660-ton pendulum, which counters wind sway, and the triangular lattice of the Shard. Agrawal emphasizes load-bearing principles, showing how engineers prevent deformation and collapse through geometry and material science.

Agrawal examines the 1968 Ronan Point tower collapse (caused by a gas explosion) and the Quebec Bridge tragedy. These case studies underscore the importance of precision in engineering and the human cost of oversights, drawing parallels to modern disasters like Grenfell Tower.

As a vocal advocate, Agrawal critiques the field’s lack of diversity and shares her journey as a woman of color in STEM. She celebrates figures like Emily Roebling, who oversaw the Brooklyn Bridge’s completion, and stresses the need for inclusive teams to drive innovation.

Agrawal credits Elisha Otis’ elevator with enabling skyscrapers, noting that elevators move the global population every 72 hours. She ties this innovation to urban density and architectural ambition, explaining how vertical transit shapes modern cities.

Unlike technical manuals, Built interweaves personal anecdotes with scientific concepts, akin to David Macaulay’s The Way Things Work but with a focus on human stories. It complements Henry Petroski’s failure analyses while emphasizing diversity—a unique angle in engineering literature.

“Engineering is a deeply creative profession that has defined our world.” Agrawal frames engineers as problem-solvers balancing aesthetics and safety, urging readers to see infrastructure as a testament to human ingenuity and collaboration.

Though not a central theme, Agrawal hints at sustainable practices through material efficiency (e.g., steel recycling) and disaster-resistant designs. The book implicitly advocates for eco-conscious innovation by examining historical resource use and long-term structural impacts.

Some readers may find its broad scope lacks depth in specific engineering subfields, and the sewage chapter’s focus on sanitation, while informative, feels tangential to grander structural narratives. However, these choices reinforce Agrawal’s goal of demystifying all aspects of built environments.