The Tender Ship

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxi

   PDF

2. The Vasa … the R100 … the R101

   • Arthur M. Squires

   Pages 1-12

3. Maestros … Apprentices

   • Arthur M. Squires

   Pages 13-46

4. Ways of Bureaucracy

   • Arthur M. Squires

   Pages 47-56

5. The AR-15 … the M-16

   • Arthur M. Squires

   Pages 57-86

6. Sand … Water … Superflight

   • Arthur M. Squires

   Pages 87-102

7. Species of Bureaucracy

   • Arthur M. Squires

   Pages 103-114

8. Honest Direction … Directed Dishonesty

   • Arthur M. Squires

   Pages 115-142

9. Presidents

   • Arthur M. Squires

   Pages 143-170

10. Professors

    • Arthur M. Squires

    Pages 171-192

11. Practitioners

    • Arthur M. Squires

    Pages 193-203

12. The Fat and Far … the Lean and Near

    • Arthur M. Squires

    Pages 205-224

13. Bureaucracy … Civilized Life

    • Arthur M. Squires

    Pages 225-232

14. Back Matter

    Pages 233-247

    PDF

Unsurprisingly, Arthur Squires presents us with a remarkable book. Unsurprisingly because this is a remarkable man - accomplished engineer, gifted musician, sensitive humanist, talented teacher, analytical observer, felicitous writer - altogether a man with the kind of breadth and depth that we rarely produce these days, and even more rarely tolerate in an age that worships specialization. Professor Squires has done a great many things in his life and has thought deeply about his experiences. The book that follows radiates not only that ongoing process of reflection, but also a dazzling range of reading and a lifetime of conversations with colleagues and bosses, mentors and students, wise men and fools. What he has produced is that rare specimen indeed - a book that is a pleasure to read and that needs to be read by every informed citizen. The Tender Ship focuses on the intersection of the most vital questions that confront American society - or indeed any modern, industrial society, however defined. No historical example exists of a society that has reached such a status without creating bureaucracies to manage its public and private sectors. Maintenance of national well-being depends, at least in part, on a nation's ability to generate and adopt the technology necessary to maintain economic competitiveness and, in the case of the United States, a credible force with which to defend ourselves and our allies.

• technology

• Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, USA

  Arthur M. Squires

Policies and ethics