Henry Petroski on The State of American Infrastructure

Mike talks with Henry Petroski, a Professor of Civil Engineering and History at Duke University. Dr. Petroski is a prolific scholar and public intellectual – in addition to publishing nineteen books and hundreds of articles in newspapers, magazines, and trade publications, he’s authored over seventy-five academic journal articles. His many books include: The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance, The Evolution of Useful Things, The House with Sixteen Handmade Doors, and The Road Taken: The History and Future of America’s Infrastructure.

In this episode, Mike and Dr. Petroski discuss learning from failure, how bad US infrastructure really is, why so many big projects seem take longer and cost more than projected, what a good infrastructure bill would look like, and lots more.

Dr. Petroski’s Recommendations:
American Society of Civil Engineers Smart Brief
US Department of Transportation
American Infrastructure Weekly
Trump Administration Infrastructure Initiative

Dr. Petroski’s Duke University Page

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