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A stunning true story of ambition, oversight, and one of the most infamous engineering failures in American history.
In 1940, the newly constructed Tacoma Narrows Bridge twisted itself into oblivion and collapsed into Puget Sound—just four months after opening. What should have been a marvel of modern engineering became a global spectacle of failure. But beneath the dramatic footage and headlines lies a deeper lesson: when engineers guess, people pay the price.
Built to Fail takes readers behind the scenes of the bridge known as "Galloping Gertie," revealing how flawed assumptions about wind, overconfidence in untested theories, and cost-cutting compromises doomed a structure meant to inspire progress. Through gripping narrative, detailed analysis, and real-world implications, this book shows how the disaster reshaped civil engineering forever.
Inside you'll discover:

• How political and financial pressures sidelined critical testing

• The dangerous myth of “good enough” in structural design

• Why the collapse launched the modern field of wind engineering

• Lessons every engineer, architect, and project manager must understand today

Whether you're a student of engineering, a history enthusiast, or a professional looking to avoid critical mistakes, Built to Fail is both a cautionary tale and a call to build smarter.
Perfect for readers of To Engineer Is Human, The Great Bridge, and Engineering Disasters: Lessons Learned.