Bridges: Three Thousand Years of Defying Nature.

From tree trunks to stone arches to the colossal steel-and-concrete structures of modern times, bridges represent the evolution of human ingenuity, engineering, and aesthetics. Writer Brown examines how the bridge has been changed over time by technology and fashion. The book proceeds chronologically, from the earliest bridges of simple wooden planks and ropes, to Rome's impressive stone creations, to the iron bridges of the Industrial Revolution, to the earliest suspension bridges and finally modern-day designs. In all, Brown details the design, construction, and history of more than 100 of the world's bridges. He also documents some spectacular failures, such as the infamous Galloping Gertie, which once spanned the Tacoma Narrows of Puget Sound in Washington State. The lightweight suspension bridge swayed harmonically and finally broke apart in a 42-mile-per-hour wind in 1940. Full of beautiful color photos and diagrams, the book offers a detailed and affectionate look at these construction marvels, Firefly, 2005, 208 p., color photos, paperback, $29.95.