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Bridges touch all our lives - every day we are likely to cross a bridge, or go under one. How many of us stop to consider how the bridge stands up and what sort of people designed and built something so strong?

Bridge building is a magnificent example of the practical and every day use of science. However, the story of bridges goes beyond science and technology, and involves issues relating to artistic and cultural development. After all, bridges are built by people, for people. Bridges can be icons for whole cities; just consider New York's Brooklyn Bridge, London's Tower Bridge, and Sydney's Harbour Bridge. Such bridges can be considered functional public art, as they have the power to delight or be an eyesore.

David Blockley explains how to read a bridge, in all its different forms, design, and construction, and the way the forces flow through arches and beams. He combines the engineering of how bridges stand up with the cultural, aesthetic, and historical importance they hold. Drawing on examples of particular bridges from around the world, he also looks in detail at the risk engineers take when building bridges, and examines why things sometimes go wrong.

• Considers the importance of bridges, highlighting examples from across the world, including New York's Brooklyn Bridge, London's Tower Bridge, Sydney's Harbour Bridge, and San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge
• Explains how to read a bridge in their different forms, their design and construction, the way the forces flow in arches and beams, and the vital foundations
• Shows how engineers work and think in creating these often huge and iconic structures
• Shows what can go wrong - famous bridge failures, and problems like the 'wobble' of London's Millennium Bridge - and why they occur
• Combines the engineering of how bridges stand up with references to the cultural, aesthetic, and historical importance of bridges
• Includes vignettes of the life and work of key engineers such as Brunel and Stephenson