Beautiful. Thank you for the reminder that these books exist. I read some of these books years back, and I still treasure the experience. I had a terrible job that started at 6:30 a.m. where by some miracle people kept assigning me tasks that could be automated, so I was about a month ahead on all of my work. In the early mornings I would read from these books on a Dell Axim that was propped up above my keyboard, next to my propped-up reversed CD-ROM disc.<p>One book that's not part of the collection but that I would recommend to the people here on HN is "James Nasmyth, Engineer: An Autobiography": <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/476" rel="nofollow">http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/476</a><p>Here's a bit from a "coding interview" that went well for him:<p>"I carefully unpacked my working model of the steam-engine at the carpenter's shop, and had it conveyed, together with my drawings, on a hand-cart to Mr. Maudslay's next morning at the appointed hour. I was allowed to place my work for his inspection in a room next his office and counting-house. I then called at his residence close by, where he kindly received me in his library. He asked me to wait until he and his partner, Joshua Field, had inspected my handiwork.<p>I waited anxiously. Twenty long minutes passed. At last he entered the room, and from a lively expression in his countenance I observed in a moment that the great object of my long cherished ambition had been attained! He expressed, in good round terms, his satisfaction at my practical ability as a workman engineer and mechanical draughtsman. Then, opening the door which led from his library into his beautiful private workshop, he said, "This is where I wish you to work, beside me, as my assistant workman. From what I have seen there is no need of an apprenticeship in your case."<p>He then proceeded to show me the collection of exquisite tools of all sorts with which his private workshop was stored. They mostly bore the impress of his own clearheadedness and common-sense. They were very simple, and quite free from mere traditional forms and arrangements. At the same time they were perfect for the special purposes for which they had been designed. The workshop was surrounded with cabinets and drawers, filled with evidences of the master's skill and industry. Every tool had a purpose. It had been invented for some special reason. Sometimes it struck the keynote, as it were, to many of the important contrivances which enable man to obtain a complete mastery over materials."<p>Anyway, a pretty fun, educational book for someone with that mindset.