Book · 2013 · History
Skunk Works
A Personal Memoir of My Years of Lockheed
Why people recommend it
Skunk Works by Leo Janos and Ben R. Rich is a personal memoir detailing the legendary Lockheed Martin advanced development projects division responsible for creating revolutionary aircraft like the U-2 and the F-117 Nighthawk. Lex Fridman discussed the book on the Lex Fridman Podcast during an episode featuring Keoki Jackson of Lockheed Martin on August 19, 2019. Fridman mentioned that he had recently read several books on the company and identified Ben Rich's memoir as his absolute favorite. He explained that the text highlights the incredible engineering achievements that shaped aviation history and noted that, for any engineer, the book reads with the gripping tension of an exciting thriller. During the same conversation, Keoki Jackson referenced Ben Rich's work directly when explaining the complex physics behind stealth technology, specifically citing the geometry of radar reflection and the specialized materials used to absorb radar waves. Both speakers used the book to illustrate the brilliant, unorthodox problem-solving methods that allowed a small, secretive team of engineers to push the absolute boundaries of aerospace engineering, change modern military strategy, and accomplish feats previously thought to be completely impossible.
Who recommended it
- Lex Fridman Recommended
- Keoki Jackson Discussed
Lex Fridman — 2 mentions
“I read several books on Lockheed Martin recently my favorite in particulars by Ben rich called skunkworks personal memoir”
“I mean it's yeah just been Rich's book and so on just tells the story it's never I can just reading it if you're an engineer it's reads like a thriller”
Keoki Jackson — 1 mention
“I'll stick to what's in been Rich's but obviously the geometry of how radar gets reflected and the kinds of materials that either reflect or absorb arcum kind of a couple of the critical elements there”