Beginning with a lovely story of how his engineer father piqued his interest in precision engineering, Simon Winchester takes us through the history of a discipline whose effects are felt worldwide. From the steam age to the space age, precision engineering has played a crucial role in our history. My favourite chapters are the ones contrasting Henry Ford and Henry Royce, and the making of the Model T Ford and the Rolls-Royce; the drama of QF32 in 2010 when an engine exploded mid-air; and his visit to the Seiko factory in Japan. Winchester has the gift of taking a subject that many might consider dry at best and creating a narrative that is both interesting and entertaining.
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