So i'm messing around in the conference room/library scanning some stuff and i'm fumbling around through some of the books, and I come across my bosses textbooks from college. He has a nuclear and mechanical engineering degree so he's got quite the collection.

I find a 1962 copy of Dynamics/Statics by Beer/Johnson. The exact same textbook I used when i took the class. I look through it and recognize some of the exact same problems i had.

Also find:
Nuclear Thoery book published in 1952.
Various Thermodynamics books dated in the mid 50's.
A 1600 page hvac book from 1955

Finally end up flipping through an autocad book from 1985.

Anyone have any similar finds at work?

7/26/2007 9:51:43 AM

Quote :

"I find a 1962 copy of Dynamics/Statics by Beer/Johnson. The exact same textbook I used when i took the class. I look through it and recognize some of the exact same problems i had."

Definitely makes you think the makers of textbooks are crooks.

7/26/2007 10:00:45 AM

well basic mechanics as well as basic electronics haven't changed in the past 60 years... Macro-scale things haven't changed, so its not surprising the text books haven't changed...

It is a little funny though, and yes textbook people are crooks... The ECE302 book went through a revision simply, and almost souly, to include a CD that an NCSU student created for free(well class credit and its landed him a LOT of opportunities) and recieved no royalties from but they made all the students go out and buy new editions the following year.

7/26/2007 10:16:38 AM

Quote :

"yes textbook people are crooks... "

Yeah they are. Yeah things haven't changed, but i just think its interesting to look at these older books from half a century ago and see the same problems.

7/26/2007 10:39:42 AM

we've known that for a long time

all they do is basically change around the problem numbers

7/26/2007 10:44:17 AM

"Professor! I only have the 1953 edition of Thermodynamics(holds up the book). Can you provide me with the homework numbers for that? It's really the same as the later 50 editions i promise!"

7/26/2007 10:52:51 AM

I've got a 1911 physics text book authored by Millikan

The same Millikan of the oil can experiment

It has some very interesting (and sometimes funny) experiments contained within

[Edited on July 27, 2007 at 1:13 AM. Reason : fdg]

7/27/2007 1:12:48 AM

^Alright who can top 1911? Any takers?

7/27/2007 11:16:54 AM

1911...jesus

7/27/2007 6:57:29 PM

It would've been much more interesting if it had belonged to a descendant, but I found it at the NC State flea market for 2 dollars in a used book bin.

Its in great shape too.

7/28/2007 1:06:37 AM