general

This book is an excellent general reference on a number of areas of science, engineering, and technology. I often refer to it first when searching for information on an unfamiliar subject. Most mechanical engineers working in design, manufacturing, and construction would benefit by having a copy of this book in their personal library.

This book has a lot of information most of which is useless calculus integration with vary brief summery which seems to me being derived from other books just thrown into the mix with general categories. The book is basically an oversized machinery's handbook but with a poorly written index and with a lot of inapt formulas that don't have a explanation for formula variables used in the equation. If you do a lot of strength of material design I would suggest a machinery's hand book, or the McGraw Hill Mechanical Engineering Design book which is an excellent P.E. exam reference book. Stay away from the Roarks Formulas for stress & strain book its more poorly written then the Marks.

I have a slightly older copy and I have found that for the PE exam this is a good reference however, if you are doing something in the real world, the Machinery's Handbook is FAR better. This book gives good overviews of a huge variety of topics that any Mech Engr might need but not much depth. It is about as much information as a manager might want to know.