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The Idea Factory: Learning to Think at MIT…
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The Idea Factory: Learning to Think at MIT (edition 2001)

by Pepper White

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1692159,953 (3.96)None
This is a personal story of the educational process at one of the world's great technological universities. This is a personal story of the educational process at one of the world's great technological universities. Pepper White entered MIT in 1981 and received his master's degree in mechanical engineering in 1984. His account of his experiences, written in diary form, offers insight into graduate school life in general--including the loneliness and even desperation that can result from the intense pressure to succeed--and the purposes of engineering education in particular. The first professor White met at MIT told him that it did not really matter what he learned there, but that MIT would teach him how to think. This, then, is the story of how one student learned how to think. There have of course been changes at MIT since 1984, but its essence is still the same. White has added a new preface and concluding chapter to this edition to bring the story of his continuing education up to date.… (more)
Member:grrivera
Title:The Idea Factory: Learning to Think at MIT
Authors:Pepper White
Info:The MIT Press (2001), Paperback, 328 pages
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The Idea Factory: Learning to Think at MIT by Pepper White

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Do you really think you are smart and it is all there is to get everything in this world? Read this book and reconsider.

MIT or not, if you have ever spent a couple of years banging your head with some intensive mechanical and civil engineering courses, had to struggle under the pressure of inhumane deadlines to stand up to the standards of your university, or had to bear the harshness of your professors (the kings of the mountain) then you really know what Mr. Pepper is talking about.

Being an engineer is not easy and trying to have your master's degree in engineering (mechanical, civil, computer, electrical, etc.) from one of the best technology universities in the world, MIT, probably is tough experience, if not tougher and harsher than the description of the author who had been there and done that.

I read the book more like a thriller than a diary. Mr. Pepper proved to be not only a good engineer but also a very engaging writer. Well, I guess if you have at least a bit of that geek, nerd or engineering streak than this book will be definite page-turner for you. It has its technical points, psychological analyses, personal dramas, behind-the-scenes expositions, hard-to-bear suspenseful moments. What else could a reader like me ask for?

This book is the saga of young man who goes to a temple in order to get the degree he wishes for but what he really gained was the ability to think in a very rigorous manner when faced with challenging and original problems. One of the most important aspects of the book is that you can see how the author spends very intensive time to solve a problem and how his experience with seemingly an artificial problem helps him to solve many different 'real-life' problems.

And the final take home message of the book should be considered this: No matter what your ambitions are, no matter how pressured you are, do not forget your humanity. You may think you'll compensate for the broken hearts in the future and then it may be too late. Think like a human, act like a human.

Well done, Mr. Pepper. And thanks for the recommendation of the bicycle museum at Dinant, Belgium. I'll be listening to some tunes played by the instrument invented by Mr. Sax as I wonder at the adventures of human creativity and problem solving. ( )
  EmreSevinc | Nov 15, 2009 |
I went to an Ivy, and now work at MIT. I love it - and this book does a good job of capturing how intense and stressful, yet exciting and invigorating, that kind of environment can be. ( )
  morrigan74 | Nov 15, 2007 |
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This is a personal story of the educational process at one of the world's great technological universities. This is a personal story of the educational process at one of the world's great technological universities. Pepper White entered MIT in 1981 and received his master's degree in mechanical engineering in 1984. His account of his experiences, written in diary form, offers insight into graduate school life in general--including the loneliness and even desperation that can result from the intense pressure to succeed--and the purposes of engineering education in particular. The first professor White met at MIT told him that it did not really matter what he learned there, but that MIT would teach him how to think. This, then, is the story of how one student learned how to think. There have of course been changes at MIT since 1984, but its essence is still the same. White has added a new preface and concluding chapter to this edition to bring the story of his continuing education up to date.

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