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Wicked Problems: How to Engineer a Better World
Our world is filled with pernicious how, for example, did novice pilots learn to fly without taking to the air and risking their lives? We have generated solutions over time, but challenges like these—wicked problems that tangle personal, public, and environmental factors—are not going away any time soon.
In Wicked Problems, engineer Guru Madhavan considers some of history’s most complicated revealing how an overlooked vulnerability resulted in Boston’s molasses disaster, how a volcano eruption curtailed global commerce, and why maintenance of our sewer systems constitutes tikkun olam, or repair of our world. Braided throughout is the tale of Edwin Link, an unsung engineering hero who revolutionized aviation with his flight trainer, a device that provides a model mindset to deal with wickedness. An homage to society’s innovators and maintainers, Madhavan’s refreshing approach to problem solving will inspire readers of all backgrounds to build more equitable and resilient systems.
In Wicked Problems, engineer Guru Madhavan considers some of history’s most complicated revealing how an overlooked vulnerability resulted in Boston’s molasses disaster, how a volcano eruption curtailed global commerce, and why maintenance of our sewer systems constitutes tikkun olam, or repair of our world. Braided throughout is the tale of Edwin Link, an unsung engineering hero who revolutionized aviation with his flight trainer, a device that provides a model mindset to deal with wickedness. An homage to society’s innovators and maintainers, Madhavan’s refreshing approach to problem solving will inspire readers of all backgrounds to build more equitable and resilient systems.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2024
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2075 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 12, 2024
Several caveats have to be issued before we go further in this review, the first being I love listening to stories and also I have an abiding love of aviation. These two reasons account for my high rating of this book. You will notice that the word "wicked" has not come up yet and if that's what brought you here you'll understand the negative reviews. I also came here because of wicked problems but was okay with what I found, other readers not so much.
I asked chatGPT what a wicked problem is and this is what it spat out A wicked problem is a complex issue that is difficult or impossible to solve because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements that are often difficult to recognize. The term was first introduced by design theorists Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber in 1973. Unlike simpler or "tame" problems, wicked problems have no single, definitive solution. Ideally this book should have been chockful of such problems in engineering, described how people went about solving those problems and the novel solutions be they subpar,ingenious or downright harmful that were developed. The book tried doing that but with mixed results, it got it right in its description of the moon landing and lost its way while describing a molasses plant incident. It was hinted at the book's blurb that in this book braided throughout is the uplifting tale of Edwin Link, who revolutionized aviation with his flight trainer what was unmentioned is that the book is mostly about this. I even suspect that the initial title of the book was A Biography of Edwin Link but a clever book agent figured it will sell poorly and repurposed it to its current title. The end goal is that the book is interesting to people who love aviation and can trace the development of flight simulators and could marvel at Link's genious while the people who came for wicked problems in systems engineering feel robbed.
To the people who came for the wicked problems you might have to look elsewhere and augment with this book but if you are interested in aviation buckle up and prepare yourself for stories of the intrepid early days of flight before IFR was developed and wonder how pilots navigated by wetting their fingers and watching which side dried first to tell wind direction or watched cows to judge whether a rainstorm is coming as cows can sense a change in atmospheric pressure and lie down in preparation. This was long,long before the glass panels in the cockpit and a lot happened before we could conduct category 3 approaches. It's a fascinating story. There's even a YouTube video that explains how a link trainer worked. I was totally fascinated by all this. We spare a thought for those who came here for wicked problems and felt robbed, potential readers should be aware of their interests and decide whether to go for it or not, I however enjoyed the book and that is what matters most.
I asked chatGPT what a wicked problem is and this is what it spat out A wicked problem is a complex issue that is difficult or impossible to solve because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements that are often difficult to recognize. The term was first introduced by design theorists Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber in 1973. Unlike simpler or "tame" problems, wicked problems have no single, definitive solution. Ideally this book should have been chockful of such problems in engineering, described how people went about solving those problems and the novel solutions be they subpar,ingenious or downright harmful that were developed. The book tried doing that but with mixed results, it got it right in its description of the moon landing and lost its way while describing a molasses plant incident. It was hinted at the book's blurb that in this book braided throughout is the uplifting tale of Edwin Link, who revolutionized aviation with his flight trainer what was unmentioned is that the book is mostly about this. I even suspect that the initial title of the book was A Biography of Edwin Link but a clever book agent figured it will sell poorly and repurposed it to its current title. The end goal is that the book is interesting to people who love aviation and can trace the development of flight simulators and could marvel at Link's genious while the people who came for wicked problems in systems engineering feel robbed.
To the people who came for the wicked problems you might have to look elsewhere and augment with this book but if you are interested in aviation buckle up and prepare yourself for stories of the intrepid early days of flight before IFR was developed and wonder how pilots navigated by wetting their fingers and watching which side dried first to tell wind direction or watched cows to judge whether a rainstorm is coming as cows can sense a change in atmospheric pressure and lie down in preparation. This was long,long before the glass panels in the cockpit and a lot happened before we could conduct category 3 approaches. It's a fascinating story. There's even a YouTube video that explains how a link trainer worked. I was totally fascinated by all this. We spare a thought for those who came here for wicked problems and felt robbed, potential readers should be aware of their interests and decide whether to go for it or not, I however enjoyed the book and that is what matters most.
September 26, 2025
An interesting book with some great formulations about how engineers have tried to solve complex problems around often overlooked processes like sewage, maintenance, Road, infrastructures, etc. The book has a parallel story around Edward Link the inventor of the flight simulator which I did not feel as strongly about. This book could have very well been divided into two individual books, one which talked about Edward's inventions and stories around and the other which tackled the idea of Wicked problems with examples from all around the world.The formulation of Wicked problems and how one solves such problems is quite fascinating and those parts of the book I really enjoyed
February 23, 2024
This book feels like a Hail Mary pass to all the specialist engineers in the field, convincing them, through the historical lens of aeronautics, that they've got more in common with systems engineering than they think they do. And with a better sense of systems engineering, comes a better sense of solving the wicked problems in the world. Is it light reading? No, but it'll definitely give your neurons something to chew on.
September 6, 2024
A sprawling disjointed book with a wide collection of anecdotes, purportedly having to do with complicated systems, but mostly woven around the story of the first flight simulators - a fully mechanic affair made by Ed Link, an enthusiast who used to make self-playing pianos.
At the end he meanders into a description of how Binghamton, NY (where Madhavan went to university) boomed around Ed Links company as well as IBM and others, but has now degenerated into a has-been.
At the end he meanders into a description of how Binghamton, NY (where Madhavan went to university) boomed around Ed Links company as well as IBM and others, but has now degenerated into a has-been.
September 13, 2024
Thanks to this book I learned about Edwin Link and his amazing work. Beyond this the book is a gratingly bombastic sounding attempt at presenting some amazing insight that is apparently too clever to put into words because the author never does.
September 21, 2024
a thought-provoking exploration of engineering's crucial role in addressing complex societal challenges. Madhaven skillfully employs historical anecdotes, bio-sketches, and clear explanations of engineering concepts to engage a broad audience. well done!
September 21, 2024
If you are an engineer, or even someone interested in how engineering can contribute to solving global challenges, this book is a must-read. As an engineer, I found the emphasis on ethical decision-making adding a great layer of depth that is often missing in technical fields.
February 25, 2024
An inventive and brilliant book!
March 26, 2024
Very interesting; I gave it as a gift to my son.
April 4, 2024
Highly engaging. Very insightful.
October 8, 2024
RB: Timothy's mom
December 28, 2024
3.5 stars
Want to read
October 24, 2025Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science short list. 10/2025.
May 19, 2024
Madhavan takes the reader through an excellent introduction of systems theory as it applies to engineering -- and he laments that engineering doesn't embrace systems often enough. Little of American society does. We've built an economic and political structure that is rewarded for avoiding systems thinking.
First he characterizing problems into four groups -- hard problems (as is hard wired with solutions that address the problem), soft problems, messy problems and wicked problems (those our linear, reductive, capital-driven, externality-creating society abhors and ignores).
Then the following chapters each take on one of the key elements of systems engineering and examples of people and companies effectively addressing each of those elements. I wanted to mark up the book but I had a library copy (so I'm buying this one and reading it again)
Throughout the book he follows Ed Link and the history of human aviation, specifically training and more specifically the evolution of simulation for training. That modeling proves a great example of applied systems engineering and how multi-layer modeling, simulation and games are useful tools for approaching wicked problems. There is a bit of a enjoyable love story/tribute to Link's home of Binghampton, NY throughout that adds an important human element to what might be a dry read otherwise given the larger topic.
Madhavan chastises engineering and by extension science and all other reductionist specializations for coveting their isolation and considering that separation as good and what makes their field good. It's wrong and the rise of so many wicked, wicked problems and our failure to effectively resolve them provides ample evidence for the need of systems thinking and the frameworks of systems engineering the author presents.
I suspect the book will have great value to a broader audience -- business, civic and philanthropy leaders to start -- than might be drawn to it with the verb "engineer" in the title.
First he characterizing problems into four groups -- hard problems (as is hard wired with solutions that address the problem), soft problems, messy problems and wicked problems (those our linear, reductive, capital-driven, externality-creating society abhors and ignores).
Then the following chapters each take on one of the key elements of systems engineering and examples of people and companies effectively addressing each of those elements. I wanted to mark up the book but I had a library copy (so I'm buying this one and reading it again)
Throughout the book he follows Ed Link and the history of human aviation, specifically training and more specifically the evolution of simulation for training. That modeling proves a great example of applied systems engineering and how multi-layer modeling, simulation and games are useful tools for approaching wicked problems. There is a bit of a enjoyable love story/tribute to Link's home of Binghampton, NY throughout that adds an important human element to what might be a dry read otherwise given the larger topic.
Madhavan chastises engineering and by extension science and all other reductionist specializations for coveting their isolation and considering that separation as good and what makes their field good. It's wrong and the rise of so many wicked, wicked problems and our failure to effectively resolve them provides ample evidence for the need of systems thinking and the frameworks of systems engineering the author presents.
I suspect the book will have great value to a broader audience -- business, civic and philanthropy leaders to start -- than might be drawn to it with the verb "engineer" in the title.
September 29, 2024
I expected the book to discuss more methods and approaches to problem-solving, but it mainly focused on the history of challenging engineering problems. It covered topics like flying planes without visibility, building flight simulators to train pilots, and diving into the deep sea. While it offers an interesting tribute to past engineering achievements, it wasn't what I was looking for when I bought this book.
The book introduces the concept of wicked problems, which arise when hard, soft, and messy problems intersect. Hard problems are typical engineering challenges, soft problems involve human behavior, and messy problems are tied to values, beliefs, and ideologies.
The author presents six criteria that need to be considered when tackling wicked problems: efficiency, vagueness, vulnerability, safety, maintenance, and resilience.
The book introduces the concept of wicked problems, which arise when hard, soft, and messy problems intersect. Hard problems are typical engineering challenges, soft problems involve human behavior, and messy problems are tied to values, beliefs, and ideologies.
The author presents six criteria that need to be considered when tackling wicked problems: efficiency, vagueness, vulnerability, safety, maintenance, and resilience.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews