The Things We Make: An In-Store Discussion with Bill Hammack

Indie bookstore The Book Stall is excited to host Bill Hammack for an in-store discussion on Wednesday, March 22 at 6:30 PM to celebrate the release of his new book, The Things We Make! Bill Hammack, a Carl Sagan award-winning professor of engineering and the viral “Engineer Guy” on YouTube, has a lifelong passion for the things we make and how we make them. In his new book, he reveals the invisible method behind every invention and takes us on a whirlwind tour of how humans built the world we know today. This event is free with registration, please visit our website to register.

More About The Things We Make: For millennia, humans have used one simple method to solve problems. Whether it’s planting crops, building skyscrapers, developing photographs, or designing the first microchip, all creators follow the same steps to engineer progress. Even though it influences every aspect of our lives, this powerful “engineering method” is a seldom known and all but hidden process. From the grand stone arches of medieval cathedrals to the mundane modern soda can, Hammack explains the golden rule of thumb that underlies every new building technique, every technological advancement, and every creative solution that leads us one step closer to a better, more functional world. Spanning centuries and cultures, Hammack offers a fascinating perspective on how humans engineer solutions in a world full of problems.

A book unlike any other, The Things We Make is a captivating examination of the method that keeps pushing humanity forward. It provides a spotlight on the achievements of the past and celebrates the potential of our future in ways that will change how we see the world around us.

Adam Grant, bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast Re: Thinking, says, “This book unravels the mysteries behind humanity’s greatest masterpieces. Bill Hammack is not just an expert on designing and building–he’s a gifted communicator. His infectious enthusiasm leaps off the page as he reveals how you can learn to think like an engineer even if you don’t love math.”

More About the Author: Bill Hammack is a professor of engineering at the University of Illinois and the host of The Engineer Guy YouTube channel. His work has received nine national awards from a diverse group of engineering, scientific, and journalistic societies. In 2019, he was the recipient of the prestigious Carl Sagan Award. He lives in Chicago with his family, you can find out more about him at www.billhammack.org.