tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470543006314152962.post4783392049556843445..comments2024-03-11T16:49:27.614+00:00Comments on The Happy Pontist: "Understanding Bridge Collapses" by Björn ÅkessonThe Happy Pontisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252272118786667592noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470543006314152962.post-64511885530238101322011-03-27T12:38:25.701+01:002011-03-27T12:38:25.701+01:00I've read "Understanding Bridge Collapses...I've read "Understanding Bridge Collapses" in its entirety, and I had no difficulties with Bjorn's English. In fact, I found the book a joy to read, and I appreciated the way Bjorn's personality came through, as though he was talking with me in conversation. More details can be found in my glowing Amazon review of the book.<br /><br />Irfan Alvi, PEIrfan Alvinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470543006314152962.post-31189183612754466432009-01-21T22:45:00.000+00:002009-01-21T22:45:00.000+00:00I certainly didn't mean to say that the book isn't...I certainly didn't mean to say that the book isn't worthwhile - nowhere else is so much interesting material on this topic brought into a single reference. The engineering explanations are mostly clear and always interesting. However, I would still say that for the amount I paid for the book, I would expect significantly more in the way of editing to have taken place.<BR/><BR/>I'm very conscious that English-speaking engineers often ignore the vast and very informative literature that is available in other languages - this is a curse because of our language's global dominance. Undoubtedly we should make more effort to learn from other nationalities - and there's little doubt that I can get more from a book in imperfect English than if it were in the original Swedish, so perhaps I should have been more positive!The Happy Pontisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15252272118786667592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470543006314152962.post-19957321731662301002009-01-21T20:33:00.000+00:002009-01-21T20:33:00.000+00:00I am sorry to read the concluding words of the rev...I am sorry to read the concluding words of the review of my book "Understanding Bridge Collapses", but I must say I do understand the frustration a reader must feel when the grammar of a text is not correct - it can really be disturbing and annoying. However, my aim was not to write a book in perfect English (as I am not capable of doing so - born in Sweden as I am), instead the intention was to provide a unique and interesting book about how to understand bridge collapses, and with respect to this objective I strongly believe that I have succeeded. I must admit though, I was a little surprised when the publisher accepted the manuscript without doing any corrections (just some minor changes).<BR/><BR/>/The authorNelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13143154120062981627noreply@blogger.com