Engineering

Children's Literature

Engineering is a career path that young adults often know little about. Yet almost everything that human beings make, from paper clips to the tallest skyscrapers, is fashioned by engineers. This book, part of Lucent's "Careers for the Twenty-First Century" series, takes some of the mystery out of one of the most lucrative careers available to college graduates both today and in the foreseeable future. There are sections on each of the five fields of engineering: electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical, and industrial. Common to each field is the necessity for the engineer to possess a strong mathematical and scientific background and to be able to apply this knowledge in a creative manner. Communication skills are more vital today than ever for a successful career in engineering. Because of the high demand for qualified engineers, salaries are generally higher than those in other careers. Quotations from the authors' personal interviews offer further insight into specific engineering projects, such as developing equipment for future Mars expeditions or designing and building bridges and tunnels. Black-and-white photographs give glimpses into an engineer's working world, and informative sub-articles populate the pages of this finely engineered work. Notes, a list of organizations, suggestions for further reading, and an index are included. 2003, Lucent Books/The Gale Group, Ages 10 to 14.
— Christopher Moning

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-This book describes six careers: teacher, counselor, principal, librarian and media specialist, professor, and corporate trainer. Within each chapter, the author discusses educational paths and licensing requirements, job opportunities, expected working hours, salaries, and the outlook for the future. Shaded insets highlight such topics as shortages of minorities, special education, and special-needs populations. Paraprofessional opportunities are not included. Black-and-white photos offer little excitement, but do illustrate a variety of people performing the jobs described. A list of professional organizations is appended. For students ready for mature, fairly definitive delineations, this is an excellent overview.-Mary R. Hofmann, Rivera Middle School, Merced, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.