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"Engineers are titans of real-world problem-solving. . . . In this riveting study of how they think, [Guru Madhavan] puts behind-the-scenes geniuses . . . center stage." -- NatureDubai's Burj Khalifa -- the world's tallest building -- looks nothing like Microsoft's Office Suite, and digital surround sound doesn't work like a citywide telecommunication grid. Yet these engineering feats have much in common.Applied Minds explores the unique visions and mental tools of engineers to reveal the enormous -- and often understated -- influence they wield in transforming problems into opportunities. The resulting account pairs the innovators of modern history -- Thomas Edison, the Wright brothers, Steve Jobs -- with everything from ATMs and the ZIP code system to the disposable diaper.