The existential pleasures of engineering Book

I was looking for a book that was written by experienced engineers for the engineers. Also, I wanted to learn more about the feelings of these experienced engineers about the profession over years of practicing. I would say that this book has answers to most of these questions and additionally it sheds light on better engineering ethics and practices as well. However, I must say that this book's main area is to provide a reasoning for the internal driving force of an engineer with philosophy.

In order to do this, first, the author provides some definitions of engineering and what an engineer is/does. While doing these definitions, it refers to historical engineering examples and the great engineers behind them - such as the industrial revolution's projects. Moreover, it refers to some US-based engineering organizations' itemized definitions of an engineer and ethic codes that these individuals should compel to. Finally, the author based on his experience directly and sometimes indirectly describes who a good engineer is. After these informative descriptions, next author talks about the anti-technology movement; its reasons, logic, people defending it and so on. He disagrees with this movement and gives his arguments against theirs clearly. Therefore, by this time in this book, you get to learn the 19th and 20th-century engineering impacts and the responses of the society to them both in negative and positive terms. In the last portion of the book, the author tells the reader about what existentialism is and how engineering and this idea is tied together.

In general, all projects have some level of success, but nothing engineered is perfect. Given time and budget constraints engineers are building tools, solutions and such. Along with this process, they define themselves, express their ideas and want to contribute to society. In the long run, there will always be some level of unknown unknowns and we need to accept this fact. It is important to note that if a technology is ill-used and causes a problem, it is not technology to blame, but the human actors behind it. I really like the anti-technology movement explanations and the arguments that are given by this group. The author even though does not support this ideology clearly, explains their perspective and gives clear references. Then refutes the arguments step by step. Therefore, this book is also informative in terms general engineering acceptance by the society.

A reader with more experience on the philosophy side may find this book not fulfilling or the arguments may be insufficiently constructed. However, to me - engineer for ~10 years - this book is providing different perspectives about the profession over time and a glimpse on the effects of engineering in the last 2 centuries on society.