Mr. Mark, in my understanding it is a large difference between textbooks for formal metallurgical education and books for metal workers who are often interested only in some specific topics, e.g. forging or heat treating of steel.
The general textbooks have a longer lifetime because they describe metal related general physical and chemical principles, which are more or less mature.
The other category of books, which are for me rather engineering handbooks, require more frequent updates or reworking.
My strength is in the general material background while my weakness is practical knowledge of heat treating processes available to steel and also knowledge of steel alloying.
Enthusiasm makes it possible to overcome many gaps in education or knowledge, but there is a risk that our reasoning may stand on feet of clay.
"All theory, dear friend, is gray, but the golden tree of life springs ever green." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
Jan
The general textbooks have a longer lifetime because they describe metal related general physical and chemical principles, which are more or less mature.
The other category of books, which are for me rather engineering handbooks, require more frequent updates or reworking.
My strength is in the general material background while my weakness is practical knowledge of heat treating processes available to steel and also knowledge of steel alloying.
Enthusiasm makes it possible to overcome many gaps in education or knowledge, but there is a risk that our reasoning may stand on feet of clay.
"All theory, dear friend, is gray, but the golden tree of life springs ever green." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
Jan