# Recommend a book about mechanical components

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-about-mechanical-components/509197>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 7, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-about-mechanical-components/509197 "2009-09-07T21:27:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-about-mechanical-components/509197/1 "2009-09-07T21:27:42Z")

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I’m an engineering student that thinks that, although my school has done a good job of educating me about fundamentals and formulas, I really have no grasp on various, real-world, mechanical components like motors, hydraulic/pneumatic systems, shaft couplings, fasteners, etc. I found that out firsthand during my senior design project when I kept getting sidetracked having learn about such components on my own.

So ultimately, can anyone recommend a book that covers such topics? I just want a book that I can read through and learn about such mechanisms without having to wade through detailed formulas (I want breadth rather than depth). So far [this book](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0070486174/) looks like what I want, but I’ll gladly take other suggestions.