Engineering is about logic, precision, and problem-solving.
In theory.
In reality, it's about assumptions, compromises, constraints, and explaining-repeatedly-why something that looks simple absolutely is not.
The Hell of Engineering is a darkly humorous exploration of the everyday realities engineers face across all disciplines. From overengineered solutions and misleading calculations to designs that only work on paper, this book captures the quiet chaos behind "technically correct" decisions.
This is not a technical guide.
It won't teach formulas, standards, or best practices.
Instead, it reflects the experiences engineers already know too well.
Inside, you'll find sharp, relatable humor about:
Problems that should have been simple
Overengineering as a survival instinct
Being technically correct-and still wrong
Assumptions that aged badly
Designs that looked perfect until reality arrived
Safety margins that inspire false confidence
Explaining engineering to people who don't want details
Working systems that must never be touched
Written with dry sarcasm and professional restraint, The Hell of Engineering turns shared frustration into recognition-and recognition into laughter.
This book is for engineers who:
Have defended designs they didn't love
Have trusted the math more than reality
Have learned that constraints ruin everything
Still think logically long after work ends
The Hell of Engineering is the second book in the Professional Humor Series, a collection of relatable humor for people who take their work seriously-but not themselves.
If you've ever looked at a project and thought, "This should have been simple,"
this book already understands you.
