The Art of Doing Science and Engineering: Learning to Learn

Quotes

"It is hard work, applied for long years, which leads to the creative act, and it is rarely just handed to you without any serious effort on your part. Yes, sometimes it just happens, and then it is pure luck. It seems to me to be folly for you to depend solely on luck for the outcome of this one life you have to lead."

"The Buddha told his disciples, "Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense." I say the same to you—you must assume the responsibility for what you believe."

"Great people can tolerate ambiguity; they can both believe and disbelieve at the same time. You must be able to believe your organization and field of research is the best there is, but also that there is much room for improvement!... If you believe too much, you will not likely see the chances for significant improvements; if you do not believe enough, you will be filled with doubts and get very little done.

Paradigm shift

It's hard to sum up this book; it contains so many important perspectives and lessons for the engineer and scientist. The paradigm shift for me was the responsibility Richard Hamming felt in his personal growth and career. The quote "you must assume the responsibility for what you believe" rings so true to me as I also feel that viscerally, that I am responsible for what beliefs I hold. I love the idea that what I believe should never be left to default, but should be conscious decisions.