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Stress Analysis of a Strapless Evening Gown
1 SOFTCOVER BOOK
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
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82 people want to read
About the author
Robert A. Baker
31 books1 followerThere is more than one author in the Goodreads catalog with this name. This entry is for Robert A.^Baker.
Baker, Robert A. (Robert Allen) 1921-2005
He is the editor of Psychology in the Wry, a collection of satire, and was formerly the co-editor of Approaches, a quarterly journal of contemporary poetry. His satirical and humorous verses have appeared in Vogue, Saturday Review, The Journal of Irreproducible Results, Worm-Runners' Digest, and other journals.
Baker, Robert A. (Robert Allen) 1921-2005
He is the editor of Psychology in the Wry, a collection of satire, and was formerly the co-editor of Approaches, a quarterly journal of contemporary poetry. His satirical and humorous verses have appeared in Vogue, Saturday Review, The Journal of Irreproducible Results, Worm-Runners' Digest, and other journals.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 30, 2021
Think engineers and scientists don’t have a sense of humor or know how to have fun? This book presents as evidence a collection of short pieces by scientists demonstrating that they enjoy a bit of entertainment as much as anyone else. Some names you should recognize and some are not as well known. The material is a bit dated but where else will you find a strapless evening gown mathematically modeled as a cantilever beam for stress analysis for keeping the goods safe as in the title piece. A fun read if you are even slightly technologically inclined. As an engineer I had to bump up my rating by one star ⭐️
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April 12, 2009If you've never heard of The Journal of Irreproducible Results, this book is a good introduction.
Scientific humor doesn't appeal to everyone--but this book (and the Journal) can be a lot of fun.
Scientific humor doesn't appeal to everyone--but this book (and the Journal) can be a lot of fun.
October 6, 2017
Anyone who’s had to revise ISO9000 documents, review a prosy thesis paper, or wade through jargon in an industry magazine, will welcome this compilation with heart-felt relief. These selections from the notorious 50s underground publication The Worm-Runner’s Digest are guaranteed to make you smile.
Consider, for example, Postal System Input Buffer Device by Joe and Gil Robertson Obsborne. A simple action, putting an envelope into a mailbox, right? Not in formal instructionese, which must specify that to operate such an input device requires:
Then there’s F.E. Warburton’s Terns, which reliably informs us that because terns have webbed feet, they will be found in the same books as albatrosses and other waterfowl; further that terns won’t eat anything but fish, so “it is no use putting out bits of suet and coconut for them in the winter”. Besides,
Two versions of the 23rd Psalm are included. The first, by Alan Simpson and R.A. Baker, commences: “The Lord is my external-internal integrative mechanism, I shall not be deprived of gratification for my viscerogenic hungers or my need dispositions…”. The second, from science fiction writer Lester del Rey, starts: “The AEC is my shepherd, I shall not live. It maketh me to lie down in radiant pastures…”.
Hugh Sinclair contributed the brilliant Hiawatha’s Lipid, which simply has to be read entire. Sinclair spoofs the classic poem in an effort for which he concedes he “sought inspiration in innumerable manhattans—taken, of course, because they were good for me since the day’s immobility of listening to papers on atheroma and serum cholesterol had no doubt silted up my vessels, and alcohol is one of the few effective solvents.”
Berkeley engineer Charles Siem’s paper supplies the book’s title. A Stress Analysis of a Strapless Evening Gown. This piece includes a wonderfully evocative figure, Force Distribution of Cantilever Beam, complete with rotational and compressional component—in which the beam’s profile is distinctly mammalian. The critical element of the force diagram is identified, with the caveat:
Sometimes the bibliography is more interesting than the paper, as R. Arnold Le Win points out in Logarithmic and Arythmic Expression of a Physiological Function. In fact, the only thing in this item is the list of references, which include:
I can only excerpt a few high points here. To read the rest will take some digging, since Stress Analysis is, sadly, out of print. A slightly more recent compilation from The Worm-Runner’s Digest titled Science, Sex and Sacred Cows is more available, as is The Worm Re-Turns.
Consider, for example, Postal System Input Buffer Device by Joe and Gil Robertson Obsborne. A simple action, putting an envelope into a mailbox, right? Not in formal instructionese, which must specify that to operate such an input device requires:
a) a passenger in normal working condition mounted upright on the front seat or (b) a driver having at least one arm on the right-hand side which is six feet long and double-jointed at the wrist and elbow.
Then there’s F.E. Warburton’s Terns, which reliably informs us that because terns have webbed feet, they will be found in the same books as albatrosses and other waterfowl; further that terns won’t eat anything but fish, so “it is no use putting out bits of suet and coconut for them in the winter”. Besides,
Baby terns just a few days old are the cutest, fluffiest little things. They will sit on your hand just as friendly as anything, going “chirp, chirp” and looking at you with their big bright eyes and vomiting half-digested fish all over your shirt.
Two versions of the 23rd Psalm are included. The first, by Alan Simpson and R.A. Baker, commences: “The Lord is my external-internal integrative mechanism, I shall not be deprived of gratification for my viscerogenic hungers or my need dispositions…”. The second, from science fiction writer Lester del Rey, starts: “The AEC is my shepherd, I shall not live. It maketh me to lie down in radiant pastures…”.
Hugh Sinclair contributed the brilliant Hiawatha’s Lipid, which simply has to be read entire. Sinclair spoofs the classic poem in an effort for which he concedes he “sought inspiration in innumerable manhattans—taken, of course, because they were good for me since the day’s immobility of listening to papers on atheroma and serum cholesterol had no doubt silted up my vessels, and alcohol is one of the few effective solvents.”
From his briefcase Hiawatha / Took his paper for the meeting… / Started on the introduction, / Giving first a brief description / Of the Proto-Keynesian period / When all fats in equal measure / Raised cholesterol in serum…
Berkeley engineer Charles Siem’s paper supplies the book’s title. A Stress Analysis of a Strapless Evening Gown. This piece includes a wonderfully evocative figure, Force Distribution of Cantilever Beam, complete with rotational and compressional component—in which the beam’s profile is distinctly mammalian. The critical element of the force diagram is identified, with the caveat:
If the female is naturally blessed with sufficient pectoral development, she can supply this very vital force and maintain the elemental strip at equilibrium. If she is not, the engineer has to supply this force by artificial methods.
Sometimes the bibliography is more interesting than the paper, as R. Arnold Le Win points out in Logarithmic and Arythmic Expression of a Physiological Function. In fact, the only thing in this item is the list of references, which include:
7. Shadrach, C., Meshach, H., and Abednego, H. and C.. An anaerobic heat resistant monoflagellate ornithine producing sulfur non-purple bacterium isolated from the rectum of a goat. J.Bact., 70: 1-11,1944.
10. Aschitz, K., and Spitz, G. Urea excretion, growth hormone production, and caudal temperature of the 6-week-old hypophysectomized, adrenalextomized, tonsillectomized castrated albino hamster. Proc.Soc.Exp.Biol.& Med.. 50: 2-4, 1956.
13. Strickstaw, A. The fats of cats. 27.Glycero-1, 4-alpha-feritol, a new liquid component of the milk of the lion. Felis leo. Biochem.J. 73: 108-113, 1946.
I can only excerpt a few high points here. To read the rest will take some digging, since Stress Analysis is, sadly, out of print. A slightly more recent compilation from The Worm-Runner’s Digest titled Science, Sex and Sacred Cows is more available, as is The Worm Re-Turns.
December 29, 2009
In the intervening decades, I'd forgotten how much I like this book. It starts out reminding me that I am not alone in recognizing the difference between scientism and science, and ends up with a lovely deconstruction of why we should not look solely to scientists to plot our course as individuals or as a society. In between there is enough really funny stuff to keep anyone happy. Some of the humour may be a bit dated, but then so am I, so it detracts not at all from my enjoyment of a wonderful light hearted collection.
March 9, 2015
From the perspective of 2015, this 1963 collection offers an odd, oft rye, occasionally humorous view on the scientific process and those who are brave enough to embed their livelihood in that progression.
November 14, 2012
Science doesn't always end up serious.
April 29, 2015
I first read this when I was 8 years old. It was funny and interesting then and it still is. Maybe I am still a kid.
December 29, 2015
A great read for engineers with a sense of humor... if such a thing exists.
January 22, 2017
A bit dated but still a fun read
November 24, 2022
I wouldn't reduce it to labeling it as simply a joke book--rather a primer, albeit an entertaining one, to plenty of dry scientific topics rendering them easily digestible.
Although this book is named after but one essay, it contains a compendium of topics of various lengths, styles, and authors from scientific and engineering backgrounds.
As with most books written during this time period (1950s), the parlance is eloquent, sharp, and witty. You'll be entertained with courtly smut, and emboldened with a fresh view of the world in terms of classical mechanics.
Science is meant to be playful and experimental. I'm my opinion the curated essays fully expressed the nature of someone who's fallen in love with the subject.
-K
Although this book is named after but one essay, it contains a compendium of topics of various lengths, styles, and authors from scientific and engineering backgrounds.
As with most books written during this time period (1950s), the parlance is eloquent, sharp, and witty. You'll be entertained with courtly smut, and emboldened with a fresh view of the world in terms of classical mechanics.
Science is meant to be playful and experimental. I'm my opinion the curated essays fully expressed the nature of someone who's fallen in love with the subject.
-K
August 26, 2024
I read this a long time ago. I felt much of it was boring. As a boy with an interest in science it had a title that warranted looking into. A couple of the short stories within it made me chuckle but on the most part, not really worthy. I'd actually give it two stars only except that the title helps to push it up.
April 28, 2017
A strapless evening gown should look as if it's about to fall off. But actually do so.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews